Wernyhora

Their name is inspired by Wernyhora, an 18th-century hurdy-gurdy player and Cossack bard from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, reputed to have prophetic abilities. His visions predicted both Poland’s downfall and its eventual rebirth, stressing the importance of brotherly ties with Ukraine. The band’s choice of the name Wernyhora reflects their dedication to the musical traditions of the Polish-Ukrainian borderlands. Moreover, our decision to name the band Wernyhora was deeply influenced by the unique background of our remarkable vocalist, Daria. As a member of Poland’s Ukrainian national minority, Daria’s family history is marked by the tragic legacy of fratricidal conflicts and forced displacements. During the 1947 ‘Operation Vistula’, her grandparents, along with the entire Ukrainian community from the borderlands, were forcibly uprooted from their ancestral homes. Daria later chose to reconnect with her heritage by returning to southeastern Poland, where she immersed herself in the folk and traditional music scene. Through this, she has preserved her grandparents’ cultural legacy, keeping the memory of their identity alive.

“Bojkowski głos Bieszczadu” (“The Boyko Voice of the Bieszczady Mountains”), Wernyhora’s original album, is the first comprehensive effort in Poland to restore the traditional songs of the former inhabitants of southeastern Poland.

The band has performed at prestigious festivals, including Rudolstadt (Germany), the World Music Festival (Slovakia), the Balkan Festival (Romania), Ethno Port (Poland), and Folkfest Showcase (Italy).

Their accolades include winning the Grand Prix at the 2023 International Competition of Folk Music Recordings (SVETOZÁR STRAČINA), first place at the 2021 Festiwal Nowa Tradycja (The New Tradition Festival), and second place for two consecutive years at the Folkowy Fonogram Roku (2022, 2023) for their albums Bojkowski głos Bieszczadu and Toloka.

PRESS REVIEWS:
“Some like ‘When the Mother of God Walked the World’ and ‘Oi, Sobosiu, Soboseiko’ have a haunting beauty. The final song, ‘Zurba’ (Sorrow) sounds like the sort of melody that might have been sung by the (…) Choir, but Wernyhora’s arrangement is spare and tragic and notes the current fighting in Ukraine” [Songlines, Simon Broughton]
Musically, a fine album indeed, but, as ever when we’re dealing with the musics of the world in their many languages, there’s so much more to it than just the way it sounds. [RootsWorld ,Andrew Cronshaw]
Daria Kosiek's voice is truly extraordinary; it reminded me of the Hungarian Marta Sebestyen in performance mode and tonality. [Folk Bulletin, Alessandro Nobis]