Świerzyński, Michał
Świerzyński Adam, *25 January 1914 Kraków, †6 July 1997 Warsaw, composer and teacher, son of Michał. In 1926–31, he studied at the Conservatory in Krakow; in 1931–34, he studied composition at the State Conservatory of Music in Poznań with S. Wiechowicz; in 1936–39 law at the University of Warsaw (master’s degree 1945); in 1947–50 composition at the PWSM in Warsaw with P. Rytel and in 1948–50 musicology with A. Simon at the University of Łódź. From 1947 to 1957, he taught theoretical subjects at the F. Chopin PŚSM in Warsaw. In 1952–55, he was a pianist and speaker at the State Entertainment Company “Artos,” in 1956 the president of WTM, and from 1963 a member of the Association of Polish Seamen, the Association of Maritime Culture Activists and the Kashubian-Pomeranian Association, from then on focusing his work on Kashubian-maritime topics. In 1972–80, he organised 12 maritime music concerts in Warsaw, worked as an editor in the “Polska Muzyka Marinistyczna” publishing house, and in 1974 founded the instrumental band Mare Nostrum. Honorary member of the Association of Maritime Culture Activists (1981). Decorations: 1979 Meritorious Activist of Culture, 1980 Meritorious for Polish Maritime Studies, 1982 Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta; awards: 1972 Award of the Minister of National Defense, 1975 Award of the Ministry of Culture and Science, 1978 Award of the Minister of Foreign Trade and Maritime Economy for lifetime achievements in the maritime field.
Świerzyński came from post-Romantic traditions, then he was inspired by impressionism and moderate modernism. In some works, he achieved an archaic sound by using modal scales and his own tonal constructions. While studying musicology, he became interested in maritime studies; this topic is reflected in his work in combination with sound material based on Kashubian and Kociewie folklore and in the use of appropriate verbal text. The composer’s fascination with seascapes meant that he prepared his themes many times for various performing groups and published many such works on his own.
Literature: T. Maciejewski Folklor kaszubski w twórczości Adama Świerzyńskiego, Gdańsk 1978.
Compositions:
Instrumental:
Pozdrowienie Gdyni for piano, 1934
Sonata for violin and piano, 1941
Krakowiak for flute and piano, 1950, published in Kraków 1957
Uwertura for orchestra, 1953
Legenda for orchestra, 1954
Sonata for flute and piano, 1954
Sonatina for flute and piano, 1955
Etiuda for flute and piano, 1956, published in Kraków 1957
Preludium i melodia for flute and piano, 1957, published in Kraków 1958
Impresje na tematy Henry Moore’a for orchestra, 1960
Lalki for piano, 1960
3 utwory for 2 pianos, 1961
suite from ballet Amber Maid [Bursztynowa panna] for orchestra, 1962
Taniec kaszubski for flute and piano, 1965
suite from ballet Pieśń o tęsknocie for orchestra, 1967
Rapsodia for orchestra, 1963
Znad morza for orchestra, 1967
Mazur for orchestra, 1972
Morski wiatr for orchestra, 1974
3 tańce kaszubskie for violin and piano, 1976
Bitwa pod Oliwą for orchestra, 1977, 2nd version for chamber ensemble
Legenda gdańska for orchestra, 1988
Piano Concerto, 1949
Violin Concerto, 1951
Concerto for flute and orchestra, 1953
2 gdańskie tańce polskie w dawnym stylu for flute and string orchestra, 1978
Ave maris stella for flute, strings and piano, 1979
Fantazja morskich fal for flute and piano, 1980
Kociewianka for piano, 1980
Morska panna for violin and piano, 1980
Ballada for clarinet and piano, 1982
Fantazja kaszubska for oboe and piano, 1983
Impresje morskie for viola and piano, 1983
Taniec kociewski for violin and piano, 1984
Romans morski for violin and piano, 1984
Smętek for bassoon and piano, 1984
Elegia for viola and piano, 1985
Mewy for flute and piano, 1985
Legenda o gdańskim młynie for oboe and piano, 1987
Fantazja morska for viola and piano, 1988
Pejzaż bałtycki for clarinet and piano, 1988
Rapsodia bałtycka for cello and piano, 1988
Ogród Neptuna for bassoon and piano, 1989
Purim Bal for flute and piano, 1990
Vocal and vocal-instrumental:
Stare Miasto, cantata, 1954
Kantata o Ojczyźnie, lyrics J. Laskowski, 1967
Wielka droga, cantata, lyrics F. Fenikowski, 3 pieces: Gdańscy pocztowcy for reciter, solo voices, choir, tape and orchestra, Stutthof for narrator, solo voices, choir and orchestra, Kołobrzeskie zaślubiny for choir and orchestra, 1968–73
Usta Odry, cantata for solo voices, narrator, choir and instrumental ensemble, lyrics F. Fenikowski, 1969
Morski wiatr for mixed choir a cappella, lyrics F. Fenikowski, 1975
5 pieśni kaszubskich for mixed choir a cappella, folk lyrics, 1976
Serenada kaszubska for mixed choir a cappella, folk lyrics, 1979
Tryptyk morski for mixed choir a cappella: 1. Gra fal, lyrics M. Zaruski, 2. Morze błękitne, lyrics Z. Płocińska, 3. Pieśń rybaków dalekomorskich, lyrics F. Fenikowski, 1971–87
Nasze morze for mixed choir a cappella, 4 pieces: 1. Pieśń rycerzy Bolesława Krzywoustego for male choir and trumpet (sic!), lyrics Gall Anonim, 2. Gdański taniec polski – vocalisation for mixed choir a cappella, 3. Kołobrzeskie zaślubiny for mixed choir a cappella (or with piano), lyrics F. Fenikowski, also version for male choir, 4. Młodzi idą for male choir a cappella, lyrics F. Fenikowski, 1971–80
songs for voice and piano or instrumental ensemble:
4 pieśni ludowe, 1932, Poznań 1932
Liryki morskie, lyrics F. Fenikowski, 1972
Malarz i Syrena, lyrics M. Łebkowski and S. Werner, 1973
Noc Fromborska, lyrics F. Fenikowski, 1973
Zamkowe godziny, 1973
Pieśni o Warszawie, lyrics M. Konopnicka, W. Hulewicz, J. Lechoń, 1987
4 pieśni, lyrics S.R. Dobrowolski, 1988
Święta Cecylia, lyrics S.R. Dobrowolski, 1988
Scenic:
ballets:
Amber Maid [Bursztynowa panna], libretto by E. Darewska and W. Brégy, 1957, staged in Poznań 1961
Pieśń o tęsknocie, libretto L. Rotbaum after a Tatar legend about Dagar and Zora, 1964, staged in Wrocław 1965
Works:
O muzyce Podhala, “Miesięcznik Ludowy” 1947 no. 4
Morze w muzyce polskiej, “Morze” 1968 no. 3
Polska muzyka marynistyczna, “Poradnik Muzyczny” 1977 no. 1