Stepan Ivanovych Maliutsa-Palchynetskyi (19 February 1915, Palchyntsi - 11 April 1991, Cleveland) was a Ukrainian bandura player, poet, composer, author of the insurgent march "Hey, Steppes" and the song "Departure to a Foreign Land". Brother of Antin and Ivan Malyuts.
Stepan Maliutsa was born on 19 February 1915 in the village of Palchyntsi, Zbarazh district (now Ternopil region) in the Ternopil region in the family of a priest. He was arrested by Polish gendarmes for his nationalist views. While still a student, he met bandura player Kost Misevych, from whom he learned to play and make banduras. With Misevych's help, he made himself a bandura and went with him to perform at concerts.
He studied at gymnasiums in Ternopil and Lviv. He graduated from the Higher Music School (Conservatory) and in 1942 from the Art School in Lviv. He was a good painter. He was persecuted by the authorities for his nationalist views.
In 1943-1944, he performed with bandura players Yurii Singalevych, Zynovii Berezhan (Zynovii Shtokalko), and Volodymyr Yurkevych. From 1944 he was a bandura player in the UPA. Together with his brother, Anton, he participated in the proclamation of the formation of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council (UGVR) and the swearing-in of UPA soldiers by General Roman Shukhevych-Chuprynka.
In 1945 he moved to the West. 1945-1947 he performed as a solo bandura player in Austria; in Munich (Germany) he published the 1st collection of Ukrainian insurgent songs.
In 1947, he emigrated to the United States (Buffalo), where he continued his concert activities, taught the art of playing the bandura, directed choirs, and made banduras.
Stepan Maliutsa died on 11 April 1991 and was buried in the cemetery of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cleveland, USA.
The song "Hey to the steppes"
The author of the words and melody of this popular song is Stepan Maliutsa. The song was first performed by the author, accompanied by a bandura, at the first congress of the UHHR in Starosambir district in July 1944.
