Rushnychok


Rushnychok was a Ukrainian-Canadian four-person music ensemble from Lachine, Quebec, Canada actively performing from 1969 to 1980 and later for small audiences. Considered the best Ukrainian diaspora ensemble of the 1970s, the four male performers comprising the band were sometimes referred to as the Ukrainian Beatles, and were descendents of Ukrainian emigrants.

Members

  • Andrij Harasymowycz—vocals and guitar
  • Eugene Osidacz—accordion
  • George Sztyk—bass guitar
  • Stepan Andrusiak—drums

    Active years

Name

The term rushnychok in Ukrainian can refer to a diminutive form of embroidered cloth handkerchief wrapped around couples' hands during weddings. It is also the title of an original song composed by Platon Maiboroda with lyrics by Andrij Malyshko, and can refer to an embroidered cloth more generally, in this case an embroidered cloth used as a sign of motherly love. This song, Rushnychok, from which the band shares its name, is featured as the first song on their first released recording. When the group began performing, they played dance and party music, including performances at weddings, and were sometimes referred to as a zabava band. They would later perform internationally, including performance at the Ukrainian National Association's estate, Soyuzivka, in the Catskill Mountains of New York.

Style

Rushnychok's musical influences included The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones as well as Winnipeg's D-Drifter 5 and Montreal's Sheremeta Band. Their music blended traditional styles featuring the accordion with more contemporary styles featuring guitars and percussion. Their decision to perform in full Ukrainian folk costume together with their band's name, was unusual in that most Ukrainian immigrants of the time were reluctant to openly display their national heritage.
In the words of band member Stepan Andrusiak, the group sought to blend "traditional sentiments and contemporary life.". They considered their music to be fun and entertaining. Andrusiak also reflected in 2020 that, "at the core of our repertoire stood songs of valiant fighters for Ukraine’s freedom."

First performance and later collaborations

The band's first performance was at a new Montreal restaurant and reception hall called La Steppe, on New Year's Eve 1969. Prior to the band's released recordings, Andrij Harasymowycz's older brother, Youra Harasymowycz, was the original accordion player, but left the band to study dentistry. This opened a space for Eugene Osidacz to join the group, who was recruited by Stefan Andrusiak following a university broom ball game. Friend of Stepan Andrusiak and band member, George Sztyk, along with Andrij Harasymowycz and Eugene Osidacz contributed to original song compositions, collaborating with playwright and poet, Borys Budny.

Albums and songs

During the period they were active, they released five albums in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1980 entitled Volume One, Volume Two, Volume Three, Volume Four, and Volume Five.

Discography

Rushnychok I
1973, Sage Promotions, RCA, LP
  1. Rushnychok
  2. Marichka
  3. Yasyny
  4. When Trumpets Play
  5. Two Colors
  6. Chervona Ruta
  7. Susidko
  8. The Solitary Steed
  9. Rozpriahayty Hloptsi Kony
  10. My Loved One
  11. Carpathian Nights
  12. Lubimsia / Lets Get Together
  13. Learn Well, My Brothers
Rushnychok II
1974, Sage Promotions, RCA, LP
  1. The Whistling Kozaks
  2. Chaban
  3. The Moon In The Sky
  4. Moyi Yasyny
  5. Eyes As Dark As The Soil
  6. The Mosquito And The Fly
  7. Lytsar
  8. I Can See The Village
  9. A Mist In The Valley
  10. The Storm
  11. My Homeland
Rushnychok III
1976, Sage Promotions, RCA, LP
  1. Canada's Rushnychok
  2. We Are Young
  3. You
  4. Ah! My Love
  5. Halychanka
  6. The Wedding Song
  7. The Ballad Of Yuri Tjutjunnyk
  8. Your Winter's Love
  9. Listen To My Heart
  10. Evening Song
  11. The Willow
  12. Reflections
Rushnychok IV
1977, Sage Promotions, LP and cassette
  1. The Distant Road
  2. Verkhovyna, My Land
  3. Beloved Girl
  4. Concertina
  5. Flight Of The Eagles
  6. An Evening In May
  7. Song Of The Steppes
  8. An Embroidery For You
  9. Young Love
  10. Enchanted Desna
  11. Coo-Coo
  12. Song Of The Forest
  13. Freedom
Rushnychok V
1980, Sage Promotions, LP
  1. When Clouds Hide The Sun
  2. The Moon And The Stars
  3. Hmeliu
  4. By The River Dunaj
  5. Don't Blame Me
  6. Ah! Kalyna
  7. Red Poppies
  8. When You Find Someone
  9. Silence All Around
  10. Nightingale
  11. I Can't Understand
  12. So Long Ago

    Later years

Andrij Harasymowycz, vocalist and guitar player, died on June 26, 2019, at the age of 72.

Other references to "''Rushnychok''"