Polish music at the turn of years

POLISH MUSIC
AT THE TURN OF YEARS
The Early Middle
Ages in Poland is a
period of songs in
praise of God.
These songs were
sung during the
Liturgy by
Gregorian chorales,
a single-part male
choirs.
Gregorian Chorale
Gregorian Chorale became the
starting point for the construction
of polyphonic (several voices).
Since the twelfth century
Gregorian chorale has begun to
be more and more influenced by
mensural music.
„Bogurodzica” is the oldest
Polish religious hymn and the
oldest Polish poetic text that
has survived.
The first recording of the text is
quite late- the early fifteenth
century. The early records
might have been lost, but the
text could have circulated orally.
For many years „Bogurodzica”
functioned as the Polish
national anthem.
This period is referred to
the golden age of Polish
culture. In this epoch,
Polish music was on a
high level, it kept up
with the European
trends. It mainly
developed at the royal
court, barons’ courts, in
monasteries and
churches.
Representatives
Almost all Polish composers of the period
were associated with the royal court.
The most famous are:
 Wacław from Szamotuły -,,When small
children go to sleep, it is dusk”.
 Mikołaj Gomółka -,,Let’s clap our hands”
 Marcin Leopolita: his works have not
survived to our times.
Romanticism in music began to raise at the time of
Beethoven’s life, when changes of a breakthrough began to
occur in Europe. The most important distinguishing features of
the music of that period include:
combination of religion, science and life in a higher, common
quality, which was art.
In brief, we can say that romanticism
arose with the need and desire for freedom.
Fryderyk Chopin
One of the most important composers of
the Romantic period and one of the most
important Polish composers in history was
Fryderyk Chopin. He was born near
Stryków, in Żelazowa Wola in 1810 but in
1831 he settled in France. He was one of
the most famous pianists of his time,
often called the poet of the piano.
The characteristic features of Chopin’s
works are the expression and using
patterns from Polish folk music.
An international competition dedicated to
his music is organised in Warsaw every
year.
Representatives
Apart from Fryderyk Chopin, other
composers also became well-known in
this period. Michał Ogiński’s polonaise
became famous in the whole world.
Also the romantic virtuoso and the
author of violin works-Henryk
Wieniawski gained a worldwide fame.
Ignacy Jan Paderewski- a pianist and a
politician influenced the history of
Polish music as well.
The features of Baroque
music are: introduction of
many new instruments,
the development of brass
instruments and the
development of purely
instrumental music. This is
the period of the
development of opera.
Opera
Opera appeared in Poland already in 1628, thanks to
Prince Władyslaw Vasa and in 1635 the theatre of
Wladyslaw IV Vasa started.
Until the death of King Władyslaw, a dozen of operas of
Italian origin were performed in this court. Warsaw was
the fifth city after Florence, Rome, Mantua and Bologna
in which new genre of music was presented.
„Młoda Polska” is the period in
the history of music between the
years 1891-1918.
Composers wanted to make
music which is first of all
original. They felt the need to
align the Polish community with
the Europen atmosphere. They
taught that great art could
become national without
folklore.
Only Karol
Szymanowski
succeded in achieving
this aim. His greatest
work of music is a
series of preludes.
This is one of them.
Polish contemporary music
is know around the world.
High quality and artistic
value are the attributes of
the outstanding composers.
Witold Lutosławski (b. 1913, d. 1994) was the
winner of a lot of prestigious awards. He developed his own
compositional style. His works are characterized by a masterful
instrumentation.
One of the most popular works of this artist are: Little Suite, Silesian
Triptych, Symphonie Variations.
Henryk Mikołaj Górecki (b.1933, d.2010) composed
works, which are characterized by rich emotional, high expression, logic
and precision in handling of the sound material. He created songs for
soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra. His famous works are:
2nd "Copernican" Symphony, 3rd Symphony(of Sorrowful Songs),
1st String Quartet „It is already dusk".
Krzysztof Penderecki
(b. 1933) enjoys the greatest
global fame. He reveals to the listener remarkable sound effects,
which are obtained by rubbing an instrument boxes with a hand,
hitting his hand on the strings, tapping an instrument with his
fingers. The most famous songs are: Polymorphia, Canon, Threnody
for the Victims of Hiroshima.
The work of the peoples of
every nation is a treasure of
centuries-old culture
and traditions.
Is an invaluable source of
information about the life and
habits of the inhabitants of the
village.
Folk music was usually created
by amateurs artists.
Vocal music
1.Ritual songs: formerly performed during
important events in the life of the village: at
weddings, harvest, etc.
2.Moral songs: love, flirty, soldierly.
3.Chants: accompanying dance melodies.
4.Ballads: sung often by „migrating beggars”
5.Pious songs: sung at the shrines- small
chapels, on pilgrimages and other
situations, not liturgical.
Instrumental music
1.Dance forms: swirl dances:
obereks, mazurkas, polkas, figured
dances, dancing events
2.Shepherd melodies: dances (eg.
shepherd)
3.Bugle calls: advent bugle calls on
ligawka (old Polish horn instrument) .
The best-known bands:
In each region there are different
Polish folk bands.
• Mazowsze (Masovia) – a
a band with a violin or
harmony as a leading
instrument,
Śląsk (Silesia)- brass
bands,
Podhale - bands with
violin in redoubled cast
Polish folklore.
Thank you for
your attention