Kazuro, Stanisław (EN)

Kazuro Stanisław, *1 August 1881 Teklinapol, †30 November 1961 Warsaw, Polish educator, conductor, composer and organiser. He studied at the Institute of Music in Warsaw with Z. Noskowski and M. Surzyński, then at the Accademia di S. Cecilia in Rome with G. Sgambati and in Paris with V. d’Indy, simultaneously listening to lectures on the history of music and philosophy at Sorbonne. After returning, he settled in Warsaw, where in 1914 he was an organist and conductor at the church of St. Trinity and organised the People’s Opera at the Association of Christian Workers. From 1915, he organised courses for music teachers in general schools. In 1916, he became bandmaster of the Warsaw Philharmonic, where he founded an oratorio choir, which operated probably until 1918 and from 1934, again organised by Kazuro. In 1916, he also organised the Choir of 300 Children of Powiśle, which in 1917 was transformed into Kapela Rorantystów that existed until 1919 at the Cathedral of St. Jan with a repertoire based on the works of Polish and Italian composers of the 16^th and 17^th centuries. In 1917–39, he was a professor at the conservatory in Warsaw, he led a newly established solfeggio class and taught conducting, counterpoint and singing. In 1920, as an officer, he participated in the Polish-Russian war. In 1922, he organised the Polska Kapela Ludowa choir, composed of students from the conservatory in Warsaw, with which he gave many concerts and made numerous recordings [including the 1^st and 2^nd songs from the cycle of Six Kurpie songs by K. Szymanowski that were recorded on the Syrena-Elektro album from 1929]. In 1927, thanks to Kazuro’s efforts, a teaching faculty for music teachers in general education was established at the conservatory in Warsaw. In 1925, he actively participated in organising the section of contemporary Polish composers at the Warsaw Musical Society. In 1930–31, he was the director of a seminar for music teachers at the conservatory in Warsaw, and in 1932–39 a member of the scientific and artistic council of the conservatory. In 1939–44, he headed a secret conservatory and initiated “afternoon moments of classical music” for the inhabitants of Powiśle. After the Warsaw Uprising, he stayed in Krakow. In 1945, he initiated the reconstruction of the conservatory in Warsaw (from 1946 PWSM) and was the rector of this university until July 1951. He received the music award of the city of Warsaw twice (1937 and 1950).

Kazuro, an outstanding expert on vocal issues, was one of the most distinguished figures in the field of music and Polish music education (pioneering activity in the field of popularising the science of solfege, educating a large staff of music and singing teachers for non-musical education, conducting activities), as well as popularising Polish folk songs among wide circles of listeners (mainly through the concert activities of the Polish Folk Band). [On the occasion of the Band’s 100^th concert (19 December 1928), the programme included pieces specially composed for this occasion by, among others, K. Sikorski, A. Maklakiewicz, and also K. Szymanowski (the first 2 songs from the cycle of Six Kurpie Songs; the entire cycle was dedicated to Kazuro)]. Kazuro’s composing activities took place mainly in the period of Polish interwar period; they remained within the tradition of post-romanticism and are considered conservative [he had a different position than K. Szymanowski both in his views on new music and the reform of music education in Poland after World War I]. In addition to the libretto for his opera Powrót, Kazuro was the author of several literary works, including the novel Profesor Zubrewicz i jego trzej wychowańcy (Warsaw 1926).

Literature: A. Wieniawski Stanisław Kazuro, jego życie i twórczość, Warsaw 1932; Twórczość Stanisława Kazuro. Katalog utworów, Warsaw 1936, 2^nd ed. 1949; W. Wroński Stanisław Kazuro. Życie i twórczość chóralna, “Życie Śpiewacze” 1953 No. 1.