Traditional Ukrainian songs as performed by folk choirs of ‘Sloboda’ Ukraine

In the context of the worldwide globalization processes the issues pertaining to the quest for national identity acquire a particular signifi cance. This is true in the case of Ukraine as a newly-independent state in the establishment and consolidation phase.In the conditions marked by a general obliteration of folk customs and traditions it is folk amateur choirs/gatherings (hurts) that often become vehicles of folk culture. This study pres-ents rare records of traditional Ukrainian songs, some of them dating back to the 19th century, which the author made in the course of several fi eld trips.