What does PBM consist of? – A Guide to the Polish Music Library
PICTURES – collection devoted to Henryk Wieniawski
Exactly 190 years ago, on 10 July 1835, Henryk Wieniawski, one of the most outstanding Polish violinists and composers, was born. To mark this occasion, we have prepared something special for you: we have compiled and made available a collection of iconographic materials devoted to the artist, comprising over 500 photographic reproductions. In the resources of the Polish Music Library, you will find manuscripts, sheet music, documents and posters – everything that brings Henryk Wieniawski closer to us and shows his importance in the musical culture of the 19th century.
How to find graphical materials related to Henryk Wieniawski?
The easiest way is to enter the keyword “Henryk Wieniawski” in the “Series” field (in the Pictures section). The search engine will display all graphical materials available in PBM that are related to the composer. If you want to explore the collection in more detail, it is worth narrowing down the results within the series using the filters.
Portraits and images of the composer
In the collection, there are graphics depicting Henryk Wieniawski from his youth to his mature years, including both photographic reproductions of portraits and drawings, caricatures and bas-reliefs.
*Tip: to narrow down the results to the selected type of images, after selecting the “Henryk Wieniawski” series, it is worth adding a filter, e.g. in the “Select topic” field, select the option “caricatures and humorous drawings.”
Family and close friends
The collection also includes numerous portraits of Henryk Wieniawski with his family and friends – from early images from the period of concerts with his brother Józef Wieniawski to photographs with his wife Isabelle Bessie-Hampton. The collection also includes individual and group portraits of members of the composer’s family, including his mother Regina Wieniawska, née Wolff, and his daughter Irena Regina Wieniawska (also known as Poldowski or Irene Dean Paul).
*Tip: To find the materials described, select the option “H. Wieniawski’s relatives and loved ones” in the “Select topic” field. If you want to find a specific person from his immediate circle, search for the relevant data in the same field, e.g. “Wieniawski, Julian (1834–1912).”
Musical materials – music prints, autographs
A separate part of the collection consists of musical materials, including both photo reproductions of Wieniawski’s first editions and handwritten musical notes showing the composer’s creative process.
*Tip: After selecting a series, in the “Select topic” field, it is worth selecting keywords such as: “autographs,” “manuscripts” or “music publications.”
Concert work – posters, reviews, cities
Henryk Wieniawski performed in many cities across Europe, in the United States, and at the Tsar’s court. To learn more about the artist’s concert work and the realities of musical life in the 19th century, it is worth looking for materials that show the broader context of the era. The collection includes press reviews describing Wieniawski’s virtuosity and artistry, posters announcing his concerts, and views of the cities where he performed.
*Tip: After selecting a series, in the “Select topic” field, you can select keywords such as “reviews” or “social life.”
Documents and handwritten notes
The Pictures section also contains reproductions of documents related to Wieniawski, such as the composer’s baptism certificate, a list of participants in classes at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and the artist’s handwritten notes.
*Tip: To narrow down the results to the selected type of documents, after selecting the series, it is worth adding a specific filter, e.g. in the “Select topic” field, select the “document” or “ceremonies and celebrations” option.
Personalities from the world of music and art
The collection also includes images of prominent figures from the world of music and culture whom the composer encountered during his concert activities.
*Tip: To find the materials described, simply select the option “H. Wieniawski’s relatives and loved ones” in the “Select topic” field within the “Henryk Wieniawski” series, or to narrow down the results to a specific type of figure, select the option: “German composers,” “Russian conductors” or “opera singers.”
We invite you to explore on your own!
We encourage you to explore the resources of our Pictures and discover lesser-known graphic materials related to Henryk Wieniawski. It is also worth taking a look at the other PBM tabs. The Sheet Music module contains many of the artist’s compositions, including the famous Grand Duo Polonais, composed together with his brother Józef.
The PWM Encyclopaedia is also worth mentioning – the entry “Wieniawski, Henryk” contains a rich biography with information about the composer’s life, concert activities and a list of his numerous works, including pieces for solo violin and viola with piano.
© Note: the materials described above are intended for use within the scope of permitted public use or permitted private use. Read more about permitted use.
