Chojnacki Roman, *1 August 1875 (79?) Władysławów (near Łódź), †22 December 1938, Warsaw, Polish music critic, teacher, organiser of musical life. In 1908, he graduated from the Music Institute in Warsaw, where he studied harmony under G. Roguski and composition and counterpoint under Z. Noskowski. Initially, he gave private lessons in music theory, and from 1915 he taught at L. Urstein’s music school for girls in Warsaw. Between 1927 and 1938, he lectured in harmony at the Conservatory. Chojnacki is credited with founding the biweekly magazine “Młoda Polska” in 1908, which was renamed “Przegląd Muzyczny” in 1910. He was the editor-in-chief of the magazine throughout its existence (1908–14, 1918–19). “Młoda Polska” represented a progressive direction in Polish musical thought, promoting the work of contemporary, especially young Polish composers (Szymanowski, Różycki). Musicologists A. Chybiński, Z. Jachimecki, H. Opieński and S. Festenburg were regular contributors to the magazine, while P. Rytel, S. Bursa and others wrote reviews. Chojnacki himself published a number of articles and reviews in this magazine. However, Chojnacki’s activities were mainly connected with the Warsaw Philharmonic; he ran it independently in 1918–23, and was its artistic director in 1923–31 and 1934–38. Chojnacki’s concern for the artistic level of the Warsaw Philharmonic is evidenced by the fact that during his tenure, it hosted performances by world-renowned conductors such as W. Furtwängler, H. Abendroth, B. Walter, E. Ansermet, H. Scherchen, W. Ferrero, pianists: S. Rachmaninoff, A. Cortot, R. Casadesus, V. Horowitz, A. Schnabel, W. Backhaus, violinists: B. Huberman, F. Kreisler and others. Chojnacki also developed publishing activities at the Warsaw Philharmonic as the editor of “Biuletyn Koncertowy” (1930–31) and “Przewodnik Koncertowy” (from 1 January 1935).
Literatura F. Starczewski Śp. Roman Chojnacki, Muzyka Polska Warszawa 1939 No. 1; Młoda Polska 1908–1909, Przegląd Muzyczny 1910–914, 1918–1919, compiled by A. Porębowiczowa, Krakow 1964.
