The Magic of Karpaty, musicians of Ivano Frankivsk, Ukraine, will be making an appearance in North Battleford at the Pioneer Hall Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.
The Magic of Karpaty features two violinists born, raised and trained in the Hutsul land of Ukraine, the Carpathian Mountains. It was there that Bogdan Vatsyk and Nadia Babchouk acquired their love of music.
Vatsyk is an honour artist of Ukraine. He achieved this prestigious title through years of intensive practice and playing the violin. Vatsyk is also an accomplished pianist, drummer and guitar player. His second instrument of love, however, is the tsymbaly, which he will also demonstrate during the performance. This instrument is rarely seen in Canada so to witness it being played is a genuine treat.
Nadia Babchouk, who has been living in Canada for the last 20 years, has performed throughout the prairies with stops including the Ukraine Festival in Dauphin, Foam Lake, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Estevan, Regina, Yorkton and Weyburn and into the United States at Minot and Crosby, N.D. Recently, Magic of Karpaty has performed with the Yevshan Ukraine Dance Ensemble and is now touring throughout Saskatchewan.
Both musicians recently toured throughout Ukraine with the popular Veseli Halychany group of Ternopil, Ukraine.
Babchouk is the wife of Greg Mackie, former manager of the now-closed Granite Curling Club of North Battleford. He says another upcoming performance they are looking forward to is Telemiracle.
The music performed by Magic of Karpaty is traditional Ukraine music. Many of the pieces centre around nature, wildlife and the Hutsul people’s way of life in the mountains.
Babchouk and Vatsyk have written many of the pieces they perform. Audiences notice their passion in the pieces as they immerse themselves in the music.
Many familiar sounds such as the cow, birds and mosquitos can be heard in some pieces while in others the dark, mysterious lives of the gypsies are portrayed.
Throughout the performance the announcer will describe the songs’ meanings for the audience to better understand.
Tickets are $20 and are available at the door.
