It is difficult to imagine world classical music without the works of Polish composers. True, they became famous around the world only in the 19th century. But one should not think that before this period there were no talented composers in Poland. For example, early Polish musical compositions date back to the 13th century.
Around the same time, the oldest song, "The Virgin Mary", was written. The first Polish composer known to us, Mikołaj Radomski, lived in the 15th century. In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, composers such as Adam Jarzanbski and Marcin Mielczewski appeared. Unfortunately, the end of the 17th century was a difficult period in the history of the country. Poland fell into decline, which affected its culture. Nevertheless, it was in the 17th and 18th centuries that the polonaise arose and became famous. One of the most famous authors of it was Chopin. After him, many more talented Poles were inscribed in the history of world music. Let's talk about the most famous of them.
Fryderyk Chopin –Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)
Chopin is the most brilliant creative personality in the history of not only music, but also of the entire world culture. He consciously devoted himself only to piano creativity, and did not write operas or symphonies. But he was the first to transform piano music into such an independent, powerful artistic kingdom. Unfortunately, he spent most of his life in exile.
Interesting facts:
Chopin is a French surname (the composer's father was French and his mother was Polish) and is pronounced Szopin.
The country's largest airport is named after Chopin and is located in the country's capital, Warsaw.
Stanisław Moniuszko – Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872)
Creator of national classical opera and chamber vocal lyrics. His work absorbed the characteristic features of the folk music of Poles, Ukrainians and Belarusians.
The highest achievement of Moniuszko's work is the opera "Halka". It is a tragic story about a young peasant girl deceived by a noble gentleman.
But especially important, along with operatic creativity, was the composition of songs (about 400), which the composer collected into collections - "Home Songbooks". Moniuszko said: "I do not create anything new. Wandering through the Polish lands, I am filled with the spirit of folk songs. From them, against my will, inspiration flows into all my compositions." These words of the composer reveal the secret of the amazing "sociability" of his music.
Interesting fact:
Stanislav Moniuszko was originally from Belarus.
Henryk Wieniawski — Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880)
The great Polish violinist and composer. "The Chopin of the violin", "The Liszt of the violin", "The Second Paganini" - Henryk Wieniawski was called many things. Indeed, the Polish musician was gifted with an amazing talent. His virtuoso abilities seemed to have no limits.
As a composer, Henryk Wieniawski enriched violin music (polonaises, mazurkas, etc.). Many international competitions, established in Warsaw (since 1935), Poznań (since 1952), as well as competitions for composers and violin makers (since 1956), are named after him.
Interesting fact:
Wieniawski toured the world extensively. On a trip to the United States in 1872 with Anton Rubinstein, they gave 215 concerts in 244 days.
Michał Kleofas Ogiński – Mikhail Kleofas Ogiński (1765 – 1833)
Many people know Michail Kleofas Oginski as the author of the legendary polonaise "Farewell to the Motherland". I consider him my hero and the genius of three nations at once: Belarusian, Lithuanian and Polish. He himself claimed in his memoirs that he belongs to the "Lithuanian" family.
Interesting fact:
He was not a professional composer. His main activity was diplomacy. Oginski served as a treasurer and also as an ambassador of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in several countries.
Karol Szynamowski – Karol Szymanowski (1882 – 1937)
Polish composer, pianist, teacher, music critic. In Poland, Szymanowski is considered the greatest composer after F. Chopin and the creator of the modern national school of composition in Poland. He went through a difficult, contradictory path of creative development, experienced the influence of F. Chopin, A. Scriabin, R. Strauss and especially strongly - impressionist composers, in particular, C. Debussy.
Interest in the art of Karol Szymanowski is steadily growing today; in many countries his music is increasingly heard, both in concert and on stage.
Interesting fact:
Shimanovsky was born in the village of Timoshovka, Kyiv province.
