This album contains a set of recordings of extraordinary works composed for poesy by Maria Ilnicka – showing the figures of 5 Polish rulers – starting with Piast, through the first crowned king – Bolesław Chrobry, then Kazimierz Wielki, Queen Jadwiga, and ending with the winners of the conflict of Vienna in 1683 – Jana III Sobieski.
Stanisław Moniuszko – Songs vol. 10
In October 2014, a evidence was released on the Polish phonographic market, as it later turned out, beginning the full Moniuszko – Song series. Initially, I did not intend to make a multi-disk collection of Moniuszkowski songs, however, the first recording proved to be an impulse for the always more insightful entry into the planet of the wonderful home singers Stanisław Moniuszko, of which six volumes were released during the composer's life, and the remaining six after his death. In the books of erstwhile albums I always tried to emphasize the most valuable qualities of subsequent volumes, specified as the portraits of poets – the authors of texts to Moniuszkowski vocal lyrics or songs first shown as cycles (vol. 2 – 4 Trains to poesy of Jan Kochanowski, vol. 6 – Songs of Romussy, Songs of Alexander Groza, Songs of Niemna and Dźwina, vol.9 – 4 songs of Village Lirnik to the words of Ludwik Kondratowicz). On the tenth – jubilee – album, another 25 songs were recorded, intended for low male voices – bass and baritone. Album Moniuszko – Songs vol. 10 presents the first set in Polish phonography of recordings of different works composed for poesy by Maria Ilnicka (previously on vol. 8 was recorded the song Do..., a circumstantial prologue for another songs) – showing the figures of the 5 rulers of Poland – starting with Piast, through the first crowned king – Bolesław Chrobry, then Kazimierz the Great, Queen Jadwiga and ending with the winners of the conflict of Vienna in 1683 – Jana III Sobieski. The poet (it was no later than 1860) personally brought to Moniuszko the text of her Polish Skarbczyk and asked to compose music to selected poems. The main editions of Six Songs to Maria Unicka's words were: in Warsaw 1860 – by Aleksander Nowolecki, in Krakow 1879 – by Julius Wildt, and additionally in the IX book of the home vocalist – Warsaw 1908 by Gebethner and Wolff. It is worth mentioning that in 1861 Novolecki's authoritative besides published Ilustratedskarbczyk Polish: past of Poland told by a poem by Maria Ilnicka (Verified portraits of Polish rulers – from Piast to Stanisław August Poniatowski – and celebrated hetmans; connected by thread of Proselysian popularizing story; with colourful engravings) integrated with a note added in the form of Six songs with music by Stanisław Moniuszko. In 1929, Piotr Mazyński published the improvement of Moniuszko's Historical Songs for the words of Maria Ilnicka for a choir mixed with the accompanying piano. The past of Poland was a origin of many deep musical inspirations for Moniuszko. As his friend, Jan Kleczyński, recalls: “Moniuszko was early enjoying the traditions of the nobler head – he was eager to read into the old chronicles and, on the day of his abrupt death, he looked inactive supposedly to Długosz.” And Moniuszko wrote in his letters: “The first school of knowing music for me was Niemcewicz’s historical songs, performed by my parent with a strangely good voice.” I'm certain Moniuszko's vocal lyrics were besides influenced by pride, predecessors of ballads, appearing in Józef Elsner's work – including Duma about Stefan Potocki.
Moniuszko/Ilnicka's historical songs besides prompt reflection on the confusing fates of Polish royal insignia, whose symbol may be a copy of Bolesław Chrobry's crown, appearing on the cover of the album.
Prof. Dr. Jolanta Pszczółkowska-Pawlik
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