Kobsar (musician)

Cossack Mamaj with Kobsa , early 19th century, oil on canvas in the National Art Museum of Ukraine

Kobsari from Poltava and Kharkov Governorates , 1902

The kobzar ( Ukrainian Кобзар ) is a Ukrainian folk singer and musician of the epic genre, who usually accompanies his singing on one of three instruments: kobsa , bandura or hurdy-gurdy . Kobsare were the creators, keepers and transmitters of the epic tradition in the form of historical songs, thoughts (melodic recitatives in variable forms), religious chants, moralizing songs as well as fairy tales and legends. Other names for the kobsar are lyre or bandura player.

The motives of the Cobars lie in the spirit of the Ukrainian people, the foundations of Christian morality and in society and everyday life.

Web links

Commons : Kobsar  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Mykola Muschynka, Kobzars in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine (English)
• Kobsar in the Encyclopedia of the History of Ukraine (Ukrainian)