Garścia Janina, married Gressel, *12 March 1920 Kraków, †1 March 2004 Kraków, Polish teacher and composer. In 1945, she graduated from the W. Żeleński Music School in Kraków (piano with O. Stolfowa), where she later taught (1945–50). At the same time, she studied composition with S. Wiechowicz and conducting with A. Malawski at the PWSM in Kraków. From 1951, she taught piano at the Stanisław Wiechowicz Primary Music School in Kraków. She was the winner of awards and distinctions for her works for children, including the Prime Minister’s Award in 1975. In 1972, she received the Golden Badge of the City of Kraków, and in 1979 – the Medal of the Commission of National Education. In 1983, she was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
She wrote about 700 pieces for children and young people, mainly for piano. Garścia’s compositions enriched school literature for children and gained lasting repertoire value mainly due to their excellent adaptation to school needs and interesting timbre, going beyond the boundaries of major-minor tonality. Garścia was most interested in piano playing, writing pieces intended for primary education. She also composed for other instruments and children’s instrument ensembles; she also created vocal music for children. The popularity of Garścia’s music is evidenced by the fact that some of her pieces were arranged by other arrangers for accordion, for a mouth harmonica ensemble, and some compositions, especially for piano, were included in collections of children’s music published in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Japan, the GDR and the USSR.
Instrumental:
Najłatwiejsze utwory dla dzieci Op. 3 for piano, published in Kraków 1946, 12th ed. 1980
Sonatina in C major Op. 4 for piano, published in Warsaw 1946
Obrazki muzyczne dla najmłodszych Op. 21 for piano, published in Kraków 1955, 8th ed. 1971
Miniatury Op. 5 for piano, published in Kraków 1957, 4th new ed. 1972, 6th ed. 1977
Małe etiudy Op. 23 for piano, polymetric study, published in Kraków 1958, 5th ed. 1979 entitled Łamigłówki
Zimowe igraszki Op. 25 for piano, published in Kraków 1961, 6th ed. 1980
Mała suita Op. 18 for 2 pianos, published in Kraków 1961, 2nd ed. 1964
Bajeczka for violin and piano, ed. J. Powroźniak, published in Kraków 1964
2 sonatiny Op. 4 for piano and Variations Op. 26 for piano, published in Kraków 1965, 3rd ed. 1983
Abecadło muzyczne Op. 15 for piano, published in Kraków 1965, 6th ed. 1981
Temat z wariacjami Op. 35 for flute, clarinet and bassoon, published in Kraków 1967, 2nd ed. 1980
Ulubione nutki Op. 27 for piano, published in Kraków 1967, 2nd new ed. 1971, 6th ed. 1981
2 sonatiny Op. 34 for cello or violin and piano, published in Kraków 1968, 2nd ed. 1982
3 pieces in the collection Żabki for piano, ed. S. Raube, published in Kraków 1968, 5th ed. 1980
Graj ze mną for 4 hands Op. 37 for piano for 4 hands, book 1 published in Kraków 1968, 4th ed. 1977, book 2 published in Kraków 1971, 3rd ed. 1977, book 3 published in Kraków 1976, 2nd ed. 1980
Drobiazgi Op. 42 for 1 and 2 oboes and piano, published in Kraków 1969, 2nd ed. 1977
Drobiazgi for violin and piano, with J. Stasica, published in Kraków 1969, 2nd ed. 1981
Etiudy dziecięce Op. 40 for piano, wyd. Kraków 1969
Miniatury Op. 45 for cello (or for double bass), published in Kraków 1971, 2nd ed. 1982
Czarodziejska pałeczka Op. 43 for children’s percussion instruments, book 1, published in Kraków 1974
Zrytmizowany świat Op. 48 for piano and children’s percussion instruments for 1 performer, published in Kraków 1974, 2nd ed. 1979
Małe sonatiny Op. 38, 51, 52 for piano, published in Kraków 1977
Bagatele Op. 40 for piano, published in Kraków 1978
Zabawne opowiadania Op. 55 for recorders, published in Kraków 1981
Impresje wiolonczelowe Op. 53 for cello, published in Kraków 1981
Szkice Op. 56 for piano, published in Kraków 1981
Vocal:
Two Songs to words by W. Bacewicz and A. Świrszczyńska Op. 22, published in Kraków 1961
Piosenka idzie do przedszkola Op. 57, published in Warsaw 1983
Electronic:
Szaruga for piano and tape and Zamyślony konik for piano, 3 percussion instruments and tape, unpublished, performed in Warsaw 1979
