Have you ever wondered about the history of the Polish music and Polish dance? Native Polish dance and music (rodzimy polski taniec i muzyka) began even before Christianity was officially established in 966. Simple music was sung and crude instruments (surowe instrumenty) used. After the tenth century, religious music dominated. The most famous hymn still sung today is Bogurodzica, a hymn to the Mother of God, Poland’s special protectress. Later, court life in Kraków and the influence of the Renaissance brought secular music (muzyka świecka) to prominence.
The impact of this cultural flow was enormous. Other countries began to imitate a style of Polish music, characterized by fast and slow movements. This led to the universally known polonaise (polonez – usually first dance at proms and second dance at Polish weddings) which originated as a peasant dance, and came to be performed in courts throughout Europe, even before Chopin’s time.
It is interesting to note that, while Italy gave birth to the opera, Poland was the second country in which opera began to be performed regularly. The first professional theater (profesjonalny teatr) was opened in 1765, one of the projects of the last king, who promoted culture extensively. The first opera (opera), thoroughly Polish in music and theme, was Cud mniemany, czyli Krakowiacy i Górale (The supposed miracle of the Cracovians and the Highlanders). It is still performed today!
Polish dance contains elements of many cultures. Interaction historically with Czechs, Russians, Germans, Swedes, Bohemians, Ukrainians and Turks has produced a rich variety of uniquely Polish dances, such as the kujawiak, krakowiak and oberek. Americans tend to associate the polka with true Polish culture, but those who visit Poland never see the polka performed (except of some of the weddings). The association of the polka with Poland is partly due to the close word resemblance (a Polka means a female Pole in the Polish language) and the mutation of the above native Polish dances, upon their transplantation to American soil.
Two state-sponsored Polish dance troupes are the Mazowsze and Śląsk who perform all over the world. Some American groups have kept the native dances alive as well, in particular, the renowned Kujawiaki Dancers of Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. Under the director Jan Sejda, this group has reached great levels of achievement in Polish choreography and costume. They have performed throughout the United States and abroad.
Christmas carols (kolędy), too, are among the most beautiful and varied of the world’s sacred music. They include the hauntingly lovely lullaby to the Infant Jesus, “Lulajże Jezuniu” which dates from the seventeenth century.
Fredryk Chopin (Fryderyk Szopen)(1810-1849) is the most beloved of Polish composers (kompozytorzy), though many people still think he was French. Indeed his father was French, but Chopin was born in Poland. His home is now a national shrine (narodowe Sanktuarium). He used the themes and rhythms of his native land making them part of the world’s musical heritage.
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) known also as a statesman and patriot, gave the world much more than his “Minuet in G.” Many of his musical compositions such as the “Fantastique Cracovienne” reflect his ability to use and knowledge of traditional Polish themes. Paderewski played with gusto and great showmanship, making him a favorite pianist throughout the world.
Known as the “Father of Polish National Opera,” Stanisław Moniuszko(1818-1872) produced the immortal Straszny Dwór (The Enchanted Court) in which the characters, from gentry to peasants, were genuinely Polish. Halka, another favorite, is still performed in our time.
Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) was part of the group of artists in the period of “Young Poland” between the two World Wars. He too, turned to native themes in his exquisite ballet Harnasie (The Mountain Robber Chieftains). His music became part of universal musical heritage and is even more popular today since during his own time Szymanowski was regarded by his contemporaries as too avant-garde.
Two modern and vital composers known for their creativity and originality are Witold Lutosławski and Krzysztof Penderecki.
Polish dance and music has a long history and is alive and very popular today.
Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)
