Music was an important and integral part of the culture for our Canadian Ukrainian pioneers and for those of us who grew up in that milieu. In addition to the Divine Liturgy and other church services' music, there were annual Christmas carols, concerts, weddings, records, and plenty of sing-alongs on many an occasion. Over the last century, there have been hundreds of Ukrainian choirs, chorus groups, musical and dance bands, and individual singers and performers. This historic musical legacy must be preserved, and more importantly, should be made available to the public.
The following is just a sample of the wide variety of historic Ukrainian music that exists. Click on the Title to go to that page which has music tracks and information on the artists / performers and the recording. You can listen to the entire recording, and/or individual tracks.
Sacred Music
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Selected Hymns from Vespers and Matins | St. Andrew's College Ukrainian Orthodox Theology Students Choir – Winnipeg, Manitoba
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Selections from the Ukrainian Orthodox Liturgy | St. John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Choir – Edmonton, Alberta
- Byzantine Glory: The Divine Liturgy | Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral Choir – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Golden Echoes of Kyiv | Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America
- This is our Jubilee | Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada Centennial song
Festive Music
- First Star | CYMK Choir and Ensemble – Edmonton, Alberta
- Heaven and Earth | Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral Choir – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- God is Born | Vydubychi Church Chorus – Kyiv, Ukraine
- On Christmas Eve | Lastiwka: Ukrainian Orthodox Youth Choir of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Folk and Popular Music
- Beginnings | Trubka Band – Edmonton, Alberta
- Ukrainian Feast | Victor Pasowisty – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- My Thoughts | Dumka Band – Edmonton, Alberta
- Album of Ukrainian Songs | Verkhovyna Quartet – Toronto, Ontario
- A Day to Remember | Interlake Polka Kings – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Songs and Dances of Ukraine | Various Bandura Choirs – Kyiv, Ukraine
- Ukrainian Dance Favourites | D-Drifters-5 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Lubomyra | Lubomyra Kowalchuk – Montreal, Quebec
- My Land, My Beloved Country | Alex Holub – Toronto, Ontario
- Kvitka | Kvitka Cisyk – Ozone Park, New York
- Rushnychok | Rushnychok Volume 3 – Montreal, Quebec
- The Kobza: Songs and Tunes | Paul Konoplenko – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Ukrainian Wedding | Tommy Buick – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Fantazia | Voloshky – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- North American Tour | Virsky Symphony Orchestra – Toronto, Ontario
- Play, Gypsy, Play | Ron Lakusta & The Diamonds – Sherwood Park, Alberta
- Roots (Korinnya) | Millenia – Edmonton, Alberta
- Korinnya Photograph | Korinnya Ukrainian Folk Choir – Calgary, Alberta
- Lastiwka | Lastiwka: Ukrainian Orthodox Youth Choir and Orchestra – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Ukrainian Country | The Frunchaks: Ed and Falicia – Edmonton, Alberta
- Your Ukrainian Party | Naduzak Family + Three – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Second Greatest Album | Nick Hnatiuk and the Fugitives – Edmonton, Alberta
- Queen of Ukrainian Dulcimer (Cymbaly) | Irene Chamczuk – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Golden Ukrainian Memories | Al Cherny – Toronto, Ontario
- Get On Track Ukrainian Style | The Cimarrons – Edmonton, Alberta
- Dance to the Music of the Melody Tones | Melody Tones – Vegreville, Alberta
- Family Favourites | The Citulsky's – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- God Bless the Farmer | Victor Holubowich and the Royal Lites – Edmonton, Alberta
- Great Melodies of Many Lands | Betty and her Brothers Five – Regina, Saskatchewan
- Weave Ukrainian Melodies | Jimmy Watsko and his Lumberjacks – Edmonton, Alberta
- Best of Bill Prokopchuk | Bill Prokopchuk – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- The Emeralds | The Emeralds – Edmonton, Alberta
- Miss Ukrainian Fiddle | Gail Marie Neduzak – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Metro Goes Country | Metro – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Live in Toronto | Burya – Toronto, Ontario
- Echoes of Ukraine | Bandura Music by Roman Bociurkiw – Vancouver, British Columbia
- Playboy Band | The Playboy Band – Edmonton, Alberta
- Regina Poltava Ukrainian Ensemble | Regina Poltava Ukrainian Ensemble – Regina, Saskatchewan
- Spring Nights | Olesia and Andriana Chuchman – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Prairie Pride | Prairie Pride – Edmonton, Alberta
- Ukrainian Melodies | Valley Tsymbaly Ensemble – Fraser Valley, British Columbia
- Kalyna | Kalyna – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Other Ukrainian Music Resources
- Ukrainian Musicians Association
- Online Encyclopedia of Ukrainian Canadian Zabava Bands
- Internet Archive – Ukrainian Music
- Polkas on the Prairies: Ukrainian Music and the Construction of Identity
IMPORTANT: These recordings are being made for the historical preservation of the rich musical heritage of Ukrainian settlers in Canada during the period of 1891 to 2001. It is important that this music, and information about the many talented performers, be preserved and made available / accessible to their descendants and future generations.
For some of these recordings, only a sample of the total tracks were copied from the original media (tape cassettes, CDs, LPs). All music tracks were digitally cleaned and enhanced to ensure best possible audio quality.
All copyrights remain with the original artists or performers. These music tracks are provided for your personal listening enjoyment, memories and education only; commercial or other uses, without the permission from the copyright holders, is prohibited.