Toma Boshko manuscripts

This collection contains music manuscripts and song lyrics by a Ukrainian-American immigrant to Northapton, Pennsylvania, as well as an intruiging bilingual glossary of millitary drill commands.

Summary Information

Creator Boshko, Toma
Title Toma Boshko manuscripts
ID g.2
Quantity 0.1 Linear Feet
Languages Multiple languages
Languages Ukrainian, Lemko dialect Ukrainian or Carpatho-Rusyn, and German.
Repository Ukrainian History and Education Center Archives

Biographical / Historical

Toma Boshko (Тома Бошко, also spelled Tomasz or Tomko Boszko) was a Ukrainian-American amateur or semi-professional musician who lived at least part of his life in Northampton, Pennsylvania. He was born January 20, 1892, probably in what is now western Ukraine or southeastern Poland. He probably spent some time in the Austro-Hungarian army, as he seems to be familiar with German-language drill commands. He appears also to have participated in the activities of the Sich Athletic and Fire Associations in Ukraine and/or the US.

Scope and Contents

This manuscripts in this collection are primarily related to Toma Boshko's musical activities, consisting of a ledger book of folk song lyrics, and scores of liturgical, secular, and folk music. In addition to the song lyrics, the ledger book also contains a Ukrainian-German glossary of millitary drill commands used by the "Sich" firefighting and athletic association.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in two series based on the format of the documents:

Missing Title

  1. Ledger book
  2. Music scores

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form: Identification of item, date (if known); Toma Boshko manuscripts; box number; folder number; Ukrainian History and Education Center Archives, Somerset, New Jersey.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for researcher use. Please contact the archivist (archives@ukrhec.org) for more information and to make arrangements.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Controlled Access Headings

Organizations

  • Poz︠h︡arnycho-himnastychne tovarystvo "Sich"

Places

  • Pennsylvania--Lehigh River Valley Region

Genres

  • Songbooks
  • Sacred vocal music
  • Notated music

File Plan

Originally housed in tall cabinet "З", shelf 1. Old catalog number 702. Also incorporates material from music manuscript accession 2012.6.4.

Container List

Series 1.  Ledger book, Possibly 1920s.

Scope and Contents

Contains hand-written lyrics of 100 songs. The majority are well-known Ukrainian folk songs, but a number are obscure, or in Lemko dialect or Carpatho-Rusyn. The book is undated, but it may be from the 1920s, based on US postage stamps affixed to the inside front and back covers (Franklin 1908 series 1 cent stamps, and a 10 cent 1894 series Postage Due stamp, which was superceded in 1930). In addition to the song lyrics, it also contains a glossary of military drill commands in Ukrainian and German.
  • volume 1
Series 2.  Music scores  
Liturgy

Scope and Contents

Soprano, alto, and tenor part books for music to the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom by an unknown composer. Bass part book is missing.
  • box 1 folder 1
Arrangements for mixed chorus, 1932.

Scope and Contents

Soprano, alto, tenor, and bass part books of choral compositions and choral arrangements of Ukrainian folk songs. Many are attributed to known composers (e.g. Leontovych, Koshyts', etc.), but some do not have any indication of composer or arranger.
  • box 1 folder 2
Arrangements for male chorus, 1932.

Scope and Contents

Arrangements of 14 Ukrainian folk songs for three part male chorus. Most of the arrangements are unattributed.
  • box 1 folder 3
Vocal duets, 1932.

Scope and Contents

Duets for soprano/alto, soprano/tenor, and tenor/baritone.
  • box 1 folder 4
Vocal solos

Scope and Contents

Solos for soprano, tenor, and baritone. These solos may have originally had instrumental accompaniments that have now been lost.
  • box 1 folder 5
Miscellaneous scores

Scope and Contents

Scores and individual parts of folk song arrangments, as well as liturgical music that has been copied out in a different hand. It is not clear if the latter is material assembled by Boshko, or was inserted by a previous archivist.
  • box 1 folder 6