Maria Viksnina and her torban | a rare Ukrainian instrument on its way into classical music

Rediscovery: Ukrainian musician Maria Viksnina introduces the torban, a historic lute instrument played by nobility in Ukraine in the 18th century, and since forgotten. Viksnina has made it her mission to give the torban a permanent place in classical music once again.

Not only in name does the torban resemble the theorbo, the bass lute common in Western Europe. Both stringed instruments have a second pegbox and an extended neck. The torban, however, is characterized by additional short treble strings.

Maria Viksnina was born in Zaporozhye, Ukraine in 1998 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the National University of Culture and Arts in Kyiv in 2020. Since then she has lived in Berlin and is studying Early Music at the Berlin University of the Arts. Besides the torban, Viksnina plays theorbo, lute and baroque guitar.

In the video, Viksnina introduces the torban and plays various pieces that illustrate its uses and sound. Her repertoire ranges from classical music to anti-war songs and the Ukrainian national anthem. Viksnina plans to start her own torban school and is committed to helping Ukraine’s soldiers in the war against Russia – by sending them her music to cheer them up on the front lines. Experience this portrait of an impressive Ukrainian musician with her impressive instrument!

Music clips:
(00:00) Spatter the Dew (Irish Slip Jig)
(00:46) Spatter the Dew (Irish Slip Jig)
(01:32) Brian Boru's March (Irish Traditional)
(03:24) Frédéric Chopin: A Maiden's Wish (from Polish Songs, Op. 74)
(05:09) Tymko Padura: Nyzowec
(05:59) "Whose horse is that?" (Ukrainian anti-war song)
(07:06) National Anthem of Ukraine
(09:36) "Whose horse is that?" (Ukrainian anti-war song)
(10:47) "Whose horse is that?" (Ukrainian anti-war song)
(12:53) Frédéric Chopin: A Maiden's Wish (from Polish Songs, Op. 74)

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