Sielicki (nie: Sielecki) Kasper, Caspar Polach, Caspar Polonus, Caspar, Gaspar, C. S., *circa 1570 (?), †after July 1591, Polish lutenist and composer. He was probably a page in the service of Stephen Batory or Anna Jagiellon around 1584 and learned to play the lute at court, probably among other things, with W. Długoraj. According to royal accounts, he was employed as a lutenist by Sigismund III between 30 March 1588 and 27 July 1591.
Sielicki’s Fantasy is a work of considerable size in which the imitation of two thematic phrases is followed by free polyphony. Sielicki’s 1-part passamezzo is unusual due to its equally consistent 3–4-voice polyphony. In galliards, in addition to ornamentation of the melody, polyphonization and brise figures are introduced.
Literature: P. Poźniak Kasper Sielicki, lutnista-kompozytor i jego twórczość, “Saeculum Christianum” IX, 2002 (contains a thematic catalogue of songs); P. Poźniak Kasper Sielicki, ein polnischer Lautenspieler: Komponist und sein Werk, “Die Laute” XII, 2017; A. Leszczyńska Emanuel Wurstisen, jego tabulatura i ich związki z Polską. Muzyka lutniowa z medycyną w tle, “Muzyka” LXV, 2020.
lute:
fantasy and 3 galliards with the attribution “Caspar Polach,” manuscript, Donaueschingen, Fürstlich Fürstenbergische Hofbibliothek, Ms G I 4, vol. 3
passamezzo, galliards and intavolations of a song Ach hertziges herz with attribution “C. S.” and an anonymous version of Sielicki’s galliard from Donaueschingen and a passamezzo and saltarello with the initials “C.P.R.,” perhaps referring to Sielicki, manuscript Basel, Öffentliche Bibliothek der Universität Basel, Musiksammlung Ms. F. IX. 70
2 galliards attributed with “Caspar,” manuscript Łódź, Biblioteka Uniwersytecka, M 6983 (formerly Berlin-Charlottenburg, Bibliothek der Staatlichen Hochschule für Musik, Ms. Grässe 5102)
2 galliards attributed with “Caspar Polonus,” supplement to J. Besard’s print Thesaurus harmonicus, manuscript Genua, Biblioteca dell’Università di Genova, 3. M. VIII. 24
