Kubasonics
Encyclopedia
The Kubasonics are a band of Edmontonians honored in Alberta’s Ukrainian Canadian community for recreating traditional Ukrainian melodies, with a twist. Humorous or surprising alterations to time-honored songs create a sound that is often described as a “folk fusion.” To create their folksy Ukrainian sound, the Kubasonics rely on a large variety of instruments including the tsymbaly
, the drymba, violin
, and bass
.
earning a PhD ("Polkas on the Prairies: Ukrainian Music and the Construction of Identity") from the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies
.
The founding members of the Kubasonics were Brian, Brian’s brother - Paul Cherwick (drums), Brian’s late wife - Beth Cherwick (violin
), Jay Lind (guitar
) and Bill Yacey (bass
). Brian, Paul, Jay, and Bill all contributed to the band’s 2005 album titled “Big Beet Music.” Additionally, Thom Bennet (drums), Rod Olstad (vocals and violin
), Taras Zakordonski (bass
), and Maria Cherwick (violin
) worked on “Big Beet Music.” Of the band members who contributed to "Big Beet Music", only Brian Cherwick, Paul Cherwick, Maria Cherwick, Bill Yacey, and Taras Zakordonski are of Ukrainian origin.
Individually, the band members have had a wide range of musical influences. In particular, D-Drifters5, known for playing traditional Ukrainian polka
music, were an inspiration for Brian who started playing piano
at a young age and percussion in high school. The Kubasonics have played renditions of some songs by the D-Drifters5. Over the years, they added more of Brian’s writing and contemporary pieces to the folk music of their performance repertoire. The track “Giants of the Prairies
” from their album of the same title exemplifies one of their sillier songs. They sing about landmarks like Vegreville, Alberta’s enormous Easter egg
, Glendon, Alberta's giant perogy, and Vilna, Alberta’s massive mushroom. This track was even played on a CBC
program about gigantic landmarks. "Giants of the Prairies
" was not the only Kubasonics song to be played on national television. Another song off "Giants of the Prairies
", "Billy Mosienko", was played on Hockey Night in Canada
as a tribute for the 50th anniversary of Mosienko's 21-second hat-trick. Despite some silly songs, the Kubasonics retain a sense of traditionalism on their albums. Songs like "Early Bird Of Spring," from their “Giants of the Prairies
” album appeal to some of their more conservative listeners.
The popularity of the Kubasonics is not limited to the Canadian music community. In the summer of 2008, the band performed in major Ukrainian cities including L’viv and Kiev
. The band also performed at the 2008 Canadian National Ukrainian Festival, which was held on August 1 through 3rd. For the CNUF, held in Dauphin
, Manitoba
, the Kubasonics are appropriate performers since one goal of the festival is to present the unique Ukrainian culture of Canada. The band has performed at Toronto’s annual Ukrainian Festival (held on Bloor Street). In contrast to performing in front of thousands of festival attendees at Toronto’s annual Ukrainian Festival, another one of the band’s memorable gigs was their smaller-scale 10th Anniversary Concert.
In the summer of 2011 The Kubasonics hosted a 15'th anniversary concert in Edmonton. It marked the 15'th year of the band's history and the last official Kubasonics concert for a while. For Kubasonics main-man Brian Cherwick moved to St. John's Newfoundland. The night was packed full of fun and music. Party Favours such as butcher hats were handed out to the concertgoers.
it was, a night to remember.
. Thom accompanies various artists, on the drums. Rod mostly fiddles, and is also involved with numerous other artists. Brian’s involvement in Edmonton’s Ukrainian music community extends to arranging music for Shumka, a world-renowned Edmonton-based Ukrainian dance troupe that has performed with stars like Julie Andrews
, Andrea Bocelli
, and Charlotte Church
.
Tsymbaly
The tsymbaly is the Ukrainian version of the hammer dulcimer. It is a chordophone made up of a trapezoidal box with metal strings strung across it. The tsymbaly is played by striking two beaters against the strings....
, the drymba, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, and bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
.
History
The Kubasonics première performance was at Edmonton’s Hopak in the Park in June 1996. Leading member Brian Cherwick had met many of his soon-to-be band mates as he studied at the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
earning a PhD ("Polkas on the Prairies: Ukrainian Music and the Construction of Identity") from the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies
Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies
The Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies was founded in 1981, as a joint creation between the University of Manitoba and St. Andrew's College. The mission of the Centre is to create, preserve and communicate knowledge dealing with Ukrainian Canadian culture and scholarship...
.
The founding members of the Kubasonics were Brian, Brian’s brother - Paul Cherwick (drums), Brian’s late wife - Beth Cherwick (violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
), Jay Lind (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Bill Yacey (bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
). Brian, Paul, Jay, and Bill all contributed to the band’s 2005 album titled “Big Beet Music.” Additionally, Thom Bennet (drums), Rod Olstad (vocals and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
), Taras Zakordonski (bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
), and Maria Cherwick (violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
) worked on “Big Beet Music.” Of the band members who contributed to "Big Beet Music", only Brian Cherwick, Paul Cherwick, Maria Cherwick, Bill Yacey, and Taras Zakordonski are of Ukrainian origin.
Individually, the band members have had a wide range of musical influences. In particular, D-Drifters5, known for playing traditional Ukrainian polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
music, were an inspiration for Brian who started playing piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at a young age and percussion in high school. The Kubasonics have played renditions of some songs by the D-Drifters5. Over the years, they added more of Brian’s writing and contemporary pieces to the folk music of their performance repertoire. The track “Giants of the Prairies
Giants of the Prairies
Giants of the Prairies is a song by the Canadian polka band, the Kubasonics.It tells the story of the numerous "world's biggest" roadside attractions to be found in Western Canada, especially in small towns populated mostly by Ukrainian Canadians....
” from their album of the same title exemplifies one of their sillier songs. They sing about landmarks like Vegreville, Alberta’s enormous Easter egg
Easter egg
Easter eggs are special eggs that are often given to celebrate Easter or springtime.The oldest tradition is to use dyed or painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans...
, Glendon, Alberta's giant perogy, and Vilna, Alberta’s massive mushroom. This track was even played on a CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
program about gigantic landmarks. "Giants of the Prairies
Giants of the Prairies
Giants of the Prairies is a song by the Canadian polka band, the Kubasonics.It tells the story of the numerous "world's biggest" roadside attractions to be found in Western Canada, especially in small towns populated mostly by Ukrainian Canadians....
" was not the only Kubasonics song to be played on national television. Another song off "Giants of the Prairies
Giants of the Prairies
Giants of the Prairies is a song by the Canadian polka band, the Kubasonics.It tells the story of the numerous "world's biggest" roadside attractions to be found in Western Canada, especially in small towns populated mostly by Ukrainian Canadians....
", "Billy Mosienko", was played on Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
as a tribute for the 50th anniversary of Mosienko's 21-second hat-trick. Despite some silly songs, the Kubasonics retain a sense of traditionalism on their albums. Songs like "Early Bird Of Spring," from their “Giants of the Prairies
Giants of the Prairies
Giants of the Prairies is a song by the Canadian polka band, the Kubasonics.It tells the story of the numerous "world's biggest" roadside attractions to be found in Western Canada, especially in small towns populated mostly by Ukrainian Canadians....
” album appeal to some of their more conservative listeners.
The popularity of the Kubasonics is not limited to the Canadian music community. In the summer of 2008, the band performed in major Ukrainian cities including L’viv and Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. The band also performed at the 2008 Canadian National Ukrainian Festival, which was held on August 1 through 3rd. For the CNUF, held in Dauphin
Dauphin, Manitoba
Dauphin is a small city in Manitoba, Canada, with a population of 7,906 as of 2006. The nearby lake was given the name "Dauphin" by the explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye in 1741 in honour of the heir to the French throne...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, the Kubasonics are appropriate performers since one goal of the festival is to present the unique Ukrainian culture of Canada. The band has performed at Toronto’s annual Ukrainian Festival (held on Bloor Street). In contrast to performing in front of thousands of festival attendees at Toronto’s annual Ukrainian Festival, another one of the band’s memorable gigs was their smaller-scale 10th Anniversary Concert.
In the summer of 2011 The Kubasonics hosted a 15'th anniversary concert in Edmonton. It marked the 15'th year of the band's history and the last official Kubasonics concert for a while. For Kubasonics main-man Brian Cherwick moved to St. John's Newfoundland. The night was packed full of fun and music. Party Favours such as butcher hats were handed out to the concertgoers.
it was, a night to remember.
Members
As a band, the members of the Kubasonics are considering compiling another CD in the summer of 2009. At present, the group members are involved in various facets of the music community, beyond their membership in the Kubasonics. Taras plays with UBUb
-Places:*Ub, Serbia, a town in Serbia*Ub , a river in Serbia*UB postcode area, in London, England*Ulan Bator, Mongolia-Organizations and businesses:*UltimateBet, an online poker site*Ungermann-Bass, a computer networking company in California...
. Thom accompanies various artists, on the drums. Rod mostly fiddles, and is also involved with numerous other artists. Brian’s involvement in Edmonton’s Ukrainian music community extends to arranging music for Shumka, a world-renowned Edmonton-based Ukrainian dance troupe that has performed with stars like Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
, Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
, and Charlotte Church
Charlotte Church
Charlotte Maria Church is a Welsh singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching into pop music in 2005. By 2007, she had sold more than 10 million records worldwide including over 5 million in the United States...
.
Discography
- Miaso (1999)
- Giants of the Prairies (2002)
- Big Beet Music (2005)
- "IV Play"(2010)