Maryna Krut - Ukrainian singer and virtuoso of the bandura

Maryna Krut (pronounced "kroot") is a Ukrainian singer and virtuoso of the bandura,  a stringed instrument unique to Ukraine that looks and sounds like a  hybrid of lute and harp. She is an assured performing artist; her  compelling, soulful performances evoke both folk traditions and modern  sensibilities, with pop and jazz flourishes. A Eurovision finalist, she  often represents Ukraine at official events and performs for soldiers in  the current war zone, and she has appeared at the Edinburgh  International Culture Summit, Andalucia Big Festival, Montreal Ukrainian  Festival, and on other international stages.

The bandura's harpsichord-like sound is both delicate and assertive.  Maryna's instrument has an astonishing 64 strings stretched over a  single piece of wood, with 13 bass strings stretched along a short,  fretless neck, and the remaining treble strings stretched across a large  soundboard. She plays the bass set with her left hand, while the right  plays across the prodigious treble array. In addition to being a  masterful instrumentalist, Maryna's striking, powerful voice soars in an  acoustic setting, whether with a string quartet or solo.

Early bandurists were male balladeers who travelled from village to  village; early in her career, says Maryna, "I dyed my hair pink, painted  my nails black, wore leather jackets and started to play the bandura in  a more modern, jazzy and funky way" (Vogue Australia). Now  she's stretching her style back toward the bandura's folk roots. "[Her  music] represents the DNA of Ukrainian culture, in all its styles,  classic and very modern" (Ouest France).

View Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMZzTsNYq5s

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bandurakrut/