Oleksandr Borodai

Oleksandr Ivanovych Borodai (1844–1919) (Ukrainian: Олександр Іванович Бородай) was Ukrainian and American engineer, bandurist, Ukrainian political and cultural activist.

Kobzar Hnat Honcharenko (left), Oleksander Borodai with a torban, and Honcharenko's guide boy

Borodai was born in Poltava region (then Russian Empire). His birth surname was Borodayevski. After studying in Cadet Corps he became an officer. Later he graduated from the politechincal Instite he became military engineer electrician. In the 1870s he emigrated to the United States and changed his last name to Borodai. In the 1890s he returned to Ukraine and took part in political and cultural activities.[1]

He took interest in Ukrainian folk music and even begat teacher of kobza music in Lysenko music school, Kiev. In 1902-1903 he was one of the initiators of the idea of the preservation of kobzar music by means of sound recording using recently invented phonograph.[2]

In 1919 he was shot by the Bolsheviks.

References
  1. Inna Starovoitenko, Становлення державностi Україны, Сiверянський литопiс
  2. "Ученые оцифровали кобзарские песни, записанные 100 лет назад" ("Scientist Digitized Kobzar Songs REcorder 100 Years Ago"), Корреспондент (Correspondent magazine), no. 34, August 29, 2014


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