‘Songs of Truth: Music and Song from the Kobzar Tradition of Ukraine’ – Out Now

We are delighted to announce the release of Songs of Truth: Music and Song from the Kobzar Tradition of Ukraine’ by Julian Kytasty. This album marks the second release in our Sound Communities recording series, a collaboration between the CSC and the  Smithsonian Folkways Recordings that highlights artists who tell stories of the lands, waters, and peoples of Turtle Island.

In Songs of Truth, Kytasty brings expressive clarity and vibrancy to the centuries-old kobzar repertoire. Through skillfully retold historical epics, philosophical songs, biting satire, and joyful dance tunes, the album animates the enduring legacy of the kobzari—blind bards who traveled the Ukrainian countryside until the early twentieth century, sharing news and history through sung storytelling accompanied on the bandura, a plucked-string instrument that has become a symbol of Ukrainian identity and culture.

As a performer, recording artist, composer, and band leader, Kytasty has redefined the artistic possibilities of the bandura. He serves as the musical director of the New York Bandura Ensemble and was the founder and curator of Bandura Downtown, a ten-year concert series based in New York’s East Village that fostered creative explorations of traditional and contemporary themes.

Kytasty has performed and recorded widely, both as a soloist and in collaborative contexts. His work includes performances with the ensemble Paris to Kyiv and the Experimental Bandura Trio, as well as collaborations with a range of artists, including John Zorn, Derek Bailey, Chinese pipa player Wu Man, and klezmer musician Michael Alpert. Across these varied projects, Kytasty brings his deep musical knowledge and distinctive artistry to the stage and studio.

Now available on CD and digital formats, you can listen to the album and pick up your copy here: orcd.co/julian-kytasty-songs-of-truth.