Musicians - Lirnyk

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	Musicians - Lirnyk

The lirnyk' were wandering Ukrainian musicians who performed religious, historical and epic songs.

They were similar to, and belonged to the same guilds as, the better known bandurists. However, the lirnyk played lira, a kind of crank-driven hurdy-gurdy, while the bandurists played the lute-like bandura. Lirnyk were always blind. They were probably active in Ukraine for centuries, but are definitely documented as performing during the period from 1850-1930.

The traditions was mostly destroyed in Eastern/Central Ukraine in mid-1930s under a campaign against Ukrainian culture and intellectuals after Stalin's reversal of Ukrainization (see korenizatsiya, Russification) although some wandering lirnyks were seen in the regions of Western Ukraine until 1970s and even 1980s. Today their songs are still performed by educated, sighted performers.

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