«Збірник лірницьких пісень Ольги Косач»: спроба реконструкції

The aim of this article is to reconstruct, at least based on the preserved folklore records, memoirs, and correspondence, the content of The Collection of Lirnyk Songs by Olha Kosach. The research methodology is grounded in the academic principles of objectivity and authenticity. A cultural-historical approach is employed to outline the context and circumstances under which the collection was formed, as well as the scholarly and public activities of Olena Pchilka. Given the specific nature of the analyzed material, elements of biographical and source analysis methods are used to refine information regarding dating, geography, informants, publication of the recordings, and Olena Pchilka’s circle of communication. Results. The article focuses on reconstructing the content of the collection of lirnyk songs from Volyn and Western Polissia, recorded by Olena Pchilka in the second half of the 19th century. The significance of this work is undeniable, as even in its preserved fragments, it confirms O. Kosach’s pioneering role in documenting the lirnyk repertoire in the region. It also highlights the genre and thematic diversity of lirnyk melodies. The specificity of the collection can be characterized through folklore texts preserved in manuscripts, featured in Olena Pchilka’s folkloristic and ethnographic studies, or published by her contemporaries (P. Zhytetskyi, M. Lysenko, K. Kvitka, K. Hrushevska). Attention is also drawn to little-known memoir materials in which O. Kosach recorded observations on the lirnyk tradition in Podillia in 1923. Conclusions emphasize the multifaceted nature of Olena Pchilka’s folkloristic and ethnographic interests and her dedicated efforts to preserve the lirnyk repertoire from Volyn, Western Polissia, and Podillia.