Rachynsky, Andrii

Rachynsky, Andrii [Рачинський; Андрій; Račyns’kyj, Andrij], b 24 November 1724 in Velyki Mosty, Sokal county, Galicia, d 1794 in Novhorod-Siverskyi. Composer and conductor. He studied at the Jesuit College in Lviv, where he also conducted the archbishop's kapelle for three years. In 1753 he started working at the court of Hetman Kyrylo Rozumovsky, where he founded the Hlukhiv Music Library and introduced Italian music in Left-Bank Ukraine. In 1761–2 he became a chamber musician at the court of Peter III, and in 1763 he was made captain of the Novhorod-Siverskyi company.

In Novhorod-Siverskyi Rachynsky was associated with the Novhorod-Siverskyi patriotic circle. During the next 30 years he made numerous trips throughout Ukraine recruiting promising young singers for court service. His works include the sacred choral concertos Raduitesia Bohu, pomoshchnyku nashemu (Rejoice in God, Our Helper) and Vozliubykh Tia, Hospody (Loving Thee, O Lord).

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 4 (1993).]