The late, great multi-instrumentalist Peter Ostroushko was the son of Ukrainian immigrants, and grew up in northeast Minneapolis’ Ukrainian community. I woke up this morning thinking about him. He has long been my favorite acoustic musician and composer, and I treasure the several opportunities I had to hear him play. The influence of his Ukrainian musical heritage is evident in all he did, and gave him a foundation for his wonderfully diverse body of recordings, compositions, and collaborations. From his website: “When I first picked up my father’s old bowl-back mandolin, around the age of three, little did I know that I was committing myself to a lifelong odyssey with the instrument.”
Then, as I was listening again to some of his recordings, I was reminded that it was in fact one year ago today that Peter passed away.
In 2014 he participated in a Concert for Ukraine in Minneapolis. Please have a listen to his comments and his poignant rendition of the tune “Suffering” from that event. He had learned the piece from a neighbor, mandolinist Michal Czerniak.
The quality of the recording is not so great, but the somber spirit of the occasion is powerful. Here is a clean recording of the piece, from his 1986 album Down The Streets Of My Old Neighborhood.
I dearly miss Peter but his music remains a blessing and comfort. May it provide such comfort through this traumatic time in Ukraine and the tragic days to come.