Wallek-Walewski Bolesław, *23 January 1885 Lviv, †9 April 1944 Krakow, Polish composer, conductor, and teacher. From 1894, at the conservatory of the Galician Music Society in Lviv, he studied piano with W. Maliszowa and W. Zellinger, and music theory and composition with S. Niewiadomski. From 1900, at the conservatory in Kraków, he studied harmony and counterpoint with W. Żeleński, piano under W. Barabasz and singing under J. Marso. Furthermore, he studied from 1903 Polish literature at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Jagiellonian University and in 1906–1907 musicology in Leipzig under H. Riemann and A. Prüfer. From 1903 Wallek-Walewski was the first conductor of the Academic Choir in Krakow. In 1915 he founded the Kraków Opera Society (active in the years 1915–1938, with a break in the years 1924 to 1930) and conducted many opera performances. From 1917 to 1919 he was conductor at the Teatr Wielki in Warsaw, from 1925 the artistic conductor of the Music Society in Kraków, in the years 1919 to 1938 the artistic director of the Kraków Singing Society “Echo.” In the years 1910 to 1917 Wallek-Walewski taught music theory at the Conservatory in Kraków, from 1930 to 1934 he led the composition class there, and in the academic year 1938–1939 he held the post of director.
Wallek-Walewski’s versatile activities as a conductor of choral ensembles, organiser of cultural institutions, composer and music critic were of great importance for the development of musical life in pre-war Krakow. He was a successful conductor, and the “Echo” men’s choir under his direction, with which he performed at numerous concerts in Poland and abroad, was one of the best amateur vocal ensembles in the country. An important cultural initiative was the founding of the Kraków Opera Society, which organized performances with the participation of outstanding singers, including A. Sari, J. Kiepura, and A. Didur. Compositional works by Wallek-Walewski primarily include vocal works, including numerous works for male choir. His compositions demonstrate a reference to impressionist music (an increased importance of instrumental colour and timbre), as well as the use of illustrative effects. reached for arrangements of folk melodies (e.g., Krakowiak. Floriańska brama). In choral or orchestral compositions there is sometimes a humorous and playful tone (Bajeczka o chorym kotku, Paweł i Gaweł). The most popular of the operas was Pomsta Jontkowa, whose libretto was a continuation of S. Moniuszko’s Halka. In the musical layer of this opera, the composer drew on highland folklore and also used short motifs from Halka.
Literature: W. Poźniak Bolesław Wallek-Walewski, “Ruch Muzyczny” 1959 No. 11; L. Świerczek Bolesław Wallek-Walewski, Krakow 1975; K. Kostrzewa Muzyka chóralna Bolesława Wallek-Walewskiego, published in Krakowska szkoła kompozytorska 1888–1988, edited by T. Malecka, Krakow 1992.
Compositions:
Instrumental works:
Paweł i Gaweł, symphonic scherzo, 1907
Suita liryczna for orchestra, 1908
Allegro appasionato for orchestra, 1910
Zygmunt August i Barbara, symphonic poem, 1910
Romans (Cantabile) for cello and piano, 1911
Walc fantastyczny for orchestra, 1912
piano and organ works.
Vocal works:
Numerous works for a cappella choir, including:
Suita pieśni góralskich for 4-voice mixed choir a cappella, beginning of 20 century, published in Kraków 1953 PWM
Krakowiak G for male a cappella choir, 1902, published in Kraków 1952 PWM
Przez te łąki for male a cappella choir , 1902, published in Kraków 1952
Pogrzeb Kazimierza Wielkiego for male a cappella choir, text by S. Wyspiański, 1911
Bajeczka o myszce for male choir a cappella, text by S. Jachowicz, 1912
Sen ziemi for 4-voice male a cappella choir , 1913, published in Kraków 1949 PWM
Salve Regina for male a cappella choir , 1913–1915
Krakowiak. Floriańska brama for male a cappella choir, folk lyrics, 1924
Odwieczna piosenka for 4-voice male a cappella choir, 1924, wyd. Kraków 1949 PWM
Psalm 130. for male a cappella choir, lyrics J. Kochanowski, 1924
Kierdele for male choir a cappella, text by J. Kasprowicz, 1926
Przejasną świecisz gloryą for 2 female choirs a cappella, text by S. Wyspiański, 1926
Rozmyślanie for 4-voices male a cappella choir, 1926, published in Kraków 1948 PWM
Zielone Świątki na Bielanach for male choir a cappella, text by J.A. Gałuszka, 1926
Deszcz w słońcu for female choir a cappella, text by J.A. Gałuszka, 1928
Krajobraz muzyczny for mixed choir a cappella, text by T. Szantroch, 1930
Bajeczka o chorym kotku for male choir a cappella, text by S. Jachowicz, 1934
Msza polska for mixed choir a cappella, 1936
Hymn na cześć św. Andrzeja Boboli for male choir a cappella, 1938.
Vocal and instrumental works:
Kantata ku czci Adama Mickiewicza for choir and piano, text by S. Rossowski, 1900
Modlitwa for male choir and orchestra/organ, text by J. Słowacki, 1909
Bogu Rodzica, cantata for solo voices, choir and orchestra, text by S. Stwora, 1916
Na gęśliczkach for male choir and violin, text by J. Kasprowicz, 1926
Missa in honorem Sti Vincentii a Paulo for male choir and organ, 1926
Apokalipsa, oratorio for solo voices, male choir, mixed choir and orchestra, text by the composer and H. Feicht according to Book of Revelation, 1931
Jak Jasiek Mosiężny… Ballada góralska for choir and violin, text by K. Tetmajer, 1934
Requiem for male choir and organ, 1936
numerous songs for voice and piano, e.g. to the texts by: A. Asnyk, J. Kochanowski, A. Mayer, A. Mickiewicz, L. Rydel, K. Ujejski
songs for voice and instrumental ensemble and for 2–3 voices and piano, also for 3 equal voices
religious pieces for 1–2 voices with piano accompaniment and organ accompaniment, also for 3 voices with organ accompaniment
Stage works:
Twardowski (Legenda), Romantic opera, libretto by A. Bandrowski, 1911, premiered in Krakow 1915
Dola, opera, libretto composer, 1919, premiered in Krakow 1919
Żona dwóch mężów, comic opera, libretto J. Guranowski, 1920, premiered in Krakow 1920
Pomsta Jontkowa, libretto by the composer, 1924, premiered in Poznań 1926
Legenda o Wandzie, Krakusie i smoku (Legenda wawelska), stage picture, text by Sz. Foelkel, 1932, premiered in Krakow 1932
Wesele śląskie, stage picture, text by S. Ligoń and A. Kubiczek, 1934.
Arrangements:
Polish folk and soldier songs for male choir, highlander melodies and songs and carols for mixed choir, Polish folk songs for voice accompanied by an instrument, carols and pastorals for male choir or for voice and piano
Pieśni i piosenki legionów for voice and piano, 1916
54 arrangements of songs with organ accompaniment from 1930, 1932, 1939, in: Śpiewnik kościelny ks. J. Siedleckiego, Part 1–3, published in Krakow 1928
Writings:
Nowoczesne oblicze muzyki krakowskiej, published in: Stowarzyszenie Młodych Muzyków w Krakowie 1931–1937, Krakow 1938
articles and music reviews in journals and magazines: “Nowa Reforma”, “Czas”, “Głos Narodu”, “Gazeta Literacka”.
