N. Z. Crac[oviensis] (EN)

N. Z. Crac[oviensis], organist and composer active in Krakow in the first half of the 16th century. The initials N.Z. are known only from the Tabulatura organowa z klasztoru Św. Ducha w Krakowie [“Organ Tabulature from the monastery of St. Spirit in Krakow in Krakow”], written around 1548; they are accompanied once by the addition “Crac.,” which may indicate the origin of the composer. The similarity of this designation and the letter N. to the initials of Mikołaj of Krakow, as well as the fact that different versions of the same works appear with either the initials N.Z. or N.C., suggests that they refer to one composer, but the most common opinion in the literature is that they refer to two different composers.

The group of works with undisputed attribution consists of four-part arrangements of Kyrie, antiphons about St. Stanislaus and two hymns, as well as three-part arrangements of two Easter songs, popular in Central Europe with lyrics in various languages. The melodies of these monodic songs are introduced as cantus firmus, either appearing in one voice (bass or highest voice) or wandering through different voices (Kyrie Fons bonitatis, Tantum ergo). Subsequent sections of the cantus firmus are often accompanied by imitations. Of particular interest is the structure of the piece Nasz Zbawiciel [“Our Saviour”], which is a kind of choral variation: the cantus firmus in long values, after appearing in the lowest voice, is repeated in its entirety in the middle voice and then in the highest voice. Among the compositions with double attribution, four-part, there is an introit and a sequence stanza. All parts of the Mass are based on cantus firmus migrans and adapted to the practice of alternatim. Among the compositions with double attribution, written for four voices, there are an introit and a stanza of a sequence. All the Mass movements are based on cantus firmus migrans and are adapted to the practice of alternatim.

Literature: Z. Jachimecki Tabulatura organowa z klasztoru Św. Ducha w Krakowie z r. 1548, print from “Rozprawa Wydziału Filologicznego Akademii Umiejętności w Krakowie” LIII, 1913; K. Wilkowska-Chomińska Nicolas de Cracovie et la musique de la Renaissance en Pologne, in: The Book of the First International Musicological Congress, devoted to the Works of Frederick Chopin 16th–22nd February 1960, ed. Z. Lissa, Warsaw 1963; K. Wilkowska-Chomińska Twórczość Mikołaja z Krakowa, Krakow 1967; B. Brzezińska Repertuar polskich tabulatur organowych z pierwszej połowy XVI wieku, Krakow 1987; P. Poźniak Le vocal et l’instrumental dans les tablatures manuscrites polonaises du XVIe siècle, in: Le concert des voix et des instruments, ed. J.M. Vaccaro, Paris 1995.