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PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , ,

Dożynki Polish Harvest Festival at HMR Cathedral Parish in Buffalo

The 5th Annual Dożynki Polish Harvest Festival will be held at Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral Parish in Lancaster, New York on Sunday September 13, 2009 from 10am to 8pm. Admission is free.

Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral Parish is located at 6298 Broadway in Lancaster, NY (Between Schwartz & Ransom Roads).

The day’s events:

10am – High Holy Mass
11am – Dożynki Ceremony
12 Noon- till sold out – food service including their famous Polish Platter and delicacies like Czernina (Duck’s Blood Soup) and Rosół (Rich Polish-Style Chicken Soup)

1pm – Polish Heritage Dancers of WNY
3:30pm – Cathedral Concert – Bell Choir & Organ
4 to 8 PM – PhoCus (Buffalo’s newest Polka Band)

Homemade Polish Food (American food also available)
Polka Music …. Polish Folk Dancers … Children’s Activities … Polish Deserts … Cultural & Craft Demonstrations … Exhibits & Vendors … Theme Tray Auction … Farmers Market … And So Much More!!

For additional information please contact the Cathedral Parish office at 716-685-5766

Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia, ,

A review of the recording of Moniuszko’s Masses and other works

From Ionarts: Reviewed, Not Necessarily Recommended: Masses by Stanisław Moniuszko

51X8yIUKCPL._SL500_AA240_Stanislaw Moniuszko: Masses/ Warsaw Phil. Chorus, DUX 0657 (76:42)

Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872) was born near Minsk (Polish territory at the time), grew up in Warsaw (then de-facto Russian), and studied in Berlin (capitol of the Prussian Province of Brandenburg). Especially because of his (Polish) patriotic-nationalist sentiment of his music—”especially his operas, he became the national Polish composer and remains so to this day. Only Karol Szyamnowski and the ‘lost son’ Fryderyk Chopin share a similarly high level of popularity. Moniuszko would make for an excellent introduction to a college primer on —Central European History in the 19th Century—, but the Polish record company DUX—”wisely—”focuses on his music, instead.

So far issued are songs of Moniuszko, his two String Quartets, and two of his ten Operas. To that, DUX adds here three masses for organ and chorus: the Latin Mass in Dâ™­ (1870), the Funeral Mass in G minor (1871), and the Polish St.Peter’s Mass in Bâ™­ (1871). The works, composed to —enrich, strengthen, console—, vacillate between Mozartean beauty and romanticized kitsch, but for most of their duration the music stays on the sheerly beautiful, not shallow, side of things. (And, I suppose, how to praise God, if not through beauty.) The Dâ™­ Kyrie (—Ky-rie— sung bisyllabic to match the alternating —Christe eleisons—) and the Funeral Mass’ Offertorium are high-points; how Moniuszko writes for two intertwining female voices—”especially in the St. Peter’s Mass’ Benedictus—”is wonderful to listen to. The Requiem Eternam dabbles prettily: romantic chill-out with a sacred veneer…

My only comment relates to the the reviewer’s mention of kitsch and history. To understand the composer you must understand his life and times, his struggles and values. The kitsch comes from the history – the Polish notion of romanticism. It was exactly that call that spoke to the heart and soul of his listeners, motivating them to action. You can certainly find technical brillance in the pantheon of Polish composers. That brilliance coupled with romanticism made things happen.

Here is Moniuszko’s Our Father (Ojcze Nasz) performed by the Choir of the Pomeranian Academy in Słupsk.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , ,

Polish Festival in Toledo, Ohio

From the Toledo Free Press: Fairs and festivals calendar

Lagrange Street Polish Festival: Toledo’s Polish Village will celebrate its heritage with polka music and dance contest, food, rides and games, and arts and craft vendors. 5p.m. to 11:00p.m. July 10, Noon-11p.m. July 11, and noon-7p.m. July 12, Polish Village, Lagrange Street, between Central Avenue and Mettler Street. $1-$3. (419) 255-8406.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, , ,

Tonight at Albany’s PCC – Evgen Malinovskiy, Siberian Bard

traffic122008_5To everyone who enjoys Russian Folk Culture!

Evgen Malinovskiy will be appearing tonight, Thursday, June 25th, 7:30pm at Albany’s Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany.

He will present the music and poetry of Vladimir Visotski, Bulat Okudjava, and Rozenbaum. Mr. Malinovskiy is known as the Siberian Bard. He is also a movie and theater actor.

Come and enjoy evening with friends and family. Suggested Donation between $5 and $10 per person.

Poetry, ,

June 23 – I wasn’t with you long by Ryszard Kniat

It was a typically gray day,
The children crying loudly
My husband says: “Smile!”
So I obediently twist my face.
And suddenly someone’s knocking,
Obtrusively, loud, alarmingly;
Yes, it can only be you,
But how did you find your way into my thoughts?

I wasn’t with you long,
I thought you wouldn’t return.
This is my world
I cannot leave this now!

Better for you to go away until time passes,
Hidden away until the end of the world,
Today — no longer the time for us,
Today — too late, well you know!
Don’t knock loudly, the children are asleep
They depend on my concern;
The head of the house after all,
And life like a bitter tear.

I wasn’t with you long…

It was a typically gray day
With the voices of children crying loudly
My husband says: “Smile!”
So I obediently twist my face.

I wasn’t with you long…

Translation by Dcn. Jim

[audio:https://www.konicki.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/krystynagizowska-niebylociebietylela.mp3]

To był zwyczajny, szary dzień,
Za ścianą dzieci głośny płacz
I męża głos – uśmiechnij się!
Więc ja posłusznie krzywię twarz.
I nagle stuka ktoś do drzwi,
Natrętnie, głośno, że aż strach;
Tak pukać możesz tylko ty,
Lecz jak strafiłeś pod mój dach?

Nie było ciebie tyle lat,
Myślałam, że nie wrcisz tu,
Poukładałam sobie świat
I nie zostawię tego już!

Najlepiej odejdź póki czas,
Na końcu świata schowaj się,
Dziś już nie pora szukać nas,
Dziś już za późno – dobrze wiesz.
Nie stukaj dłużej, dzieci śpią
I na mnie czeka tyle spraw;
Na głowie przecież cały dom,
A życie gorzkie jest jak łza.

Nie było ciebie tyle lat…

To był zwyczajny szary dzień,
Za ścianą dzieci głośny płacz.
I męża głos: “Uśmiechnij się!”
Więc ja posłusznie krzywię twarz.

Nie było ciebie tyle lat…

PNCC, , ,

Talented teen from St. Joseph’s cited by The Rupublican: Newspaper in Education

2009 Talented Teen: Morgan L. Markel of Westfield High School, Grade 10

Discipline: Music (piano)

Resume highlights: First and third in the Young Artist Piano Competition and Evaluations at Westfield State College, American Guild of Music age finalists, church organist at St. Joseph Polish National Catholic Church in Westfield

“Practicing allows me to express myself in any genre of music. Playing piano has helped me understand myself, my identity and has motivated me to set high goals for every piece I play.”

Nominating teacher: Ellen M. Buoniconti, The Music Cellar, West Springfield

Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Political,

A review of Penderecki’s St Luke Passion

From The Guardian: St Luke Passion at Canterbury Cathedral

Sounds New, Canterbury’s contemporary music festival, has focused on postwar Polish work this year, culminating in a performance of Penderecki’s St Luke Passion with forces from Poland conducted by the composer himself. Last heard in the UK at the 1982 Proms, this 1966 work put Penderecki on the international map as an angry, avant-gardist. At Canterbury, with Polish dignitaries in attendance, we were conscious of just what an establishment figure he has become.

As a religious-political statement, the work still arouses intense admiration. Its aim was to redefine the Bach-based tradition of passion music in the aftermath of mid-20th century genocide, and Penderecki’s choice of a Latin text over the vernacular expressed a libertarian Catholic militancy in opposition to totalitarian thought…

The brief review captures a whole swath of history in three paragraphs. Well done.

Everything Else, , , ,

Voices — Roots and Branches of New York Folk Music

The New York Folklore Society is holding a benefit gala on Friday, May 29th in Schenectady, New York. All proceeds will benefit the New York Folklore Society, a service organization dedicated to the study, promotion, and continuation of New York’s diverse folklore and folklife. Details as follows:

Proctors’ Theatre, 432 State Street, Schenectady
Reception/Meet the Artists at 5:30 p.m. in Robb Alley, Proctors
Concert begins at 7:00 p.m. in the GE Theater of Proctors

Please join us for a benefit event featuring some of New York’s favorite musicians – traditional as well as performer/interpreters. Featured performers (a tentative list) include ballad singer Colleen Cleveland, Senegalese drummer and dancer Fode Sissoko, singer/songwriter Dan Berggren, Abenaki storyteller and musician Joe Bruchac, multi-instrumentalist John Kirk and Cedar Stanistreet, and performer/interpreters Kim and Reggie Harris.

Reception and Concert $40.00
Concert only $20.00
(a $1.50 surcharge will be added via the box office at Proctor’s Theatre)

Tickets Available through the New York Folklore Society, 518-346-7008 or through Proctor’s box office. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible.

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