Simeon Pekalytskyi (sometimes Semen Pekalytskyi) (b. 1630 - d. 1688?) was a Ukrainian composer, choral conductor and music teacher. He was the author of partes choral works.
Biography
Little is known about the life of Simeon Pekalytskyi. Born in Ukraine around 1630, he studied at the higher schools of Kyiv, Lviv, Ostroh, and Lutsk. He received a thorough musical education.
In the 60s of the seventeenth century, Simeon Pekalytskyi led the chapel of Archbishop Lazar Baranovych of Chernihiv. It can be assumed that it was Lazar Baranovych who drew attention to the talented young man. In the mid-1660s, the Tsar of Moscow became interested in the possibility of introducing polyphonic singing in the Moscow church. In 1666, the Chernihiv choir travelled to Moscow as a demonstration, where it worked for almost a year. S. Pekalytskyi had the opportunity to demonstrate both his music and conducting skills.
In 1667, the artist became the director of the choir of Yosyp (Ivan) Shumlyansky in Lviv, and in 1673 he was invited back to Moscow, where he became the head of the Court Choir. In the 80s of the seventeenth century he returned to Ukraine and settled in Novhorod-Siverskyi.
In the register of notes of the library of the Lviv Brotherhood School of 1697, the 8-voice "Divine Liturgy" by Simeon Pekalytskyi is mentioned. Apparently, it was also performed by the choir of the Lviv Brotherhood School
