Musicians from Ukraine performing in Palatine

In celebration of the 200th birthday of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, the Palatine Library is hosting a music program from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22.

Professional bandurists from the Ukraine will be performing music and songs of this famous poet at the library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine.

The beautiful sounds of the bandura, a plucked string folk instrument, are a cross between the harp and the harpsichord.

Taras Shevchenko was a 19th century Ukrainian poet, writer, artist, and major figure of the Ukrainian national revival. He was well-known as folklorist and ethnographer.

At the time, Ukraine was split between Russia and Austro-Hungary, with a serf-based economic system and minimal education. Shevchenko was born a serf and by age 11, he was an orphan. His master recognized his talents and sent him to school in St. Petersburg. His poetry reflected his anger against those responsible for Ukrainian suffering.

The bandurists are Dmytro Hubyak, Ivan Shmilo and Viktor Rubay. They will be playing with soloist Olha Fenyuk of Lviv State Philharmonic.

For information and to sign up for the program, call (847) 358-5881 or visit www.palatinelibrary.org.

Other show dates for the Ukrainian musicians include 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 23, at St. Joseph Ukrainian Church, 5000 N. Cumberland, on the far Northwest Side of Chicago, and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Church, 2245 W. Superior St. in Chicago's Ukrainian Village neighborhood.