Mazowsze (folk group)
Encyclopedia
Mazowsze is a famous Polish
folk
group. It is named after the Mazowsze region of Poland.
and Kurpie
, but it soon extended its range by adopting the traditions of other regions.
After two years of preparing, rehearsing and studying its repertoire, Mazowsze staged its premiere in the Polish Theatre in Warsaw
on 6 November 1950. The repertoire contained songs and dances from the regions of Central Poland (as mentioned above) – Opoczno, Kurpie and Masovia.
In between the concerts after the premiere in Warsaw Mazowsze continued to enhance the programme, planned next undertakings and made important decisions. Only year after, in 1951, Mazowsze started touring outside Poland. The first country they visited was The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, understandable in those days due to Poland's geopolitical situation. Three years later the Polish government allowed Mazowsze to venture outside the “Iron curtain
”. On 1 October 1954 there was a concert in Paris
, and six years later in the USA.
After the death of Prof. Tadeusz Sygietyński, the group’s leader became Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska, who was working beside her husband from the very beginning of Mazowsze. They both researched the countryside, Ziemińska looking for old traditional garments, Sygietynski hoping to find young talents. She also made Mazowsze as it is till now. Had it not been for her, it would not be possible to find new areas of research like 39 more ethnographic regions or description of religious and patriotic songs which were never written down. Because of her Mazowsze gained popularity all over the world, gave around 6 thousand concerts as well in Poland as in 49 countries. Mira tried to collect also material treasures of Polish folklore – costumes which were reconstructed with great care.
Mira Ziemińska-Sygietyńska was the group's leader for over 40 years, devoting her talent, experience and life to the project completely.
In the fifties, Mazowsze gave the opportunity to sing to such great Polish singers as Irena Santor
or Lidia Korsakówna.
, and the role of the Australian man – Wiesław Gołas. In 1999 Mazowsze also appeared in Andrzej Wajda
’s movie Pan Tadeusz
, in the scene of the traditional Polish dance – the Polonaise
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
group. It is named after the Mazowsze region of Poland.
History
"Mazowsze" was established by a decree issued by the Ministry of Culture and Art on 8 November 1948. The decree ordered Professor Tadeusz Sygietyński to create a folk group that would maintain regional artistic traditions and the traditional folk repertoire of songs and dances of the Masovian countryside. The group was intended to protect this folk tradition from destruction and encapsulate its diversity, beauty and richness. At the beginning Mazowsze's repertoire contained songs and dances from only a few regions of Poland – OpocznoOpoczno
Opoczno is a town in south-central Poland, within the eastern part of Łódź Voivodeship , previously in Piotrków Trybunalski Voivodeship . Important communication routes run through the town, namely the central railway line, which connects Silesia with Warsaw, and road 12, which creates a...
and Kurpie
Kurpie
Kurpie is one of a number of ethnic regions in Poland, noted for its unique traditional customs, such as its own types of traditional costume, traditional dance, and distinctive type of architecture and livelihoods...
, but it soon extended its range by adopting the traditions of other regions.
After two years of preparing, rehearsing and studying its repertoire, Mazowsze staged its premiere in the Polish Theatre in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
on 6 November 1950. The repertoire contained songs and dances from the regions of Central Poland (as mentioned above) – Opoczno, Kurpie and Masovia.
In between the concerts after the premiere in Warsaw Mazowsze continued to enhance the programme, planned next undertakings and made important decisions. Only year after, in 1951, Mazowsze started touring outside Poland. The first country they visited was The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, understandable in those days due to Poland's geopolitical situation. Three years later the Polish government allowed Mazowsze to venture outside the “Iron curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
”. On 1 October 1954 there was a concert in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and six years later in the USA.
After the death of Prof. Tadeusz Sygietyński, the group’s leader became Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska, who was working beside her husband from the very beginning of Mazowsze. They both researched the countryside, Ziemińska looking for old traditional garments, Sygietynski hoping to find young talents. She also made Mazowsze as it is till now. Had it not been for her, it would not be possible to find new areas of research like 39 more ethnographic regions or description of religious and patriotic songs which were never written down. Because of her Mazowsze gained popularity all over the world, gave around 6 thousand concerts as well in Poland as in 49 countries. Mira tried to collect also material treasures of Polish folklore – costumes which were reconstructed with great care.
Mira Ziemińska-Sygietyńska was the group's leader for over 40 years, devoting her talent, experience and life to the project completely.
In the fifties, Mazowsze gave the opportunity to sing to such great Polish singers as Irena Santor
Irena Santor
Irena Santor is a retired Polish singer. She was a very popular and prolific in her youth. She spent the first years of her life in Solec Kujawski....
or Lidia Korsakówna.
Film appearances
In 1963 Mazowsze appeared in the Polish comedy movie Żona dla Australijczyka (Wife for an Australian), about an Australian man of Polish descent who returns to Poland to find a wife. The role of the soloist of Mazowsze was played by the famous Polish actress Elżbieta CzyżewskaElzbieta Czyzewska
Elżbieta Justyna Czyżewska was a Polish actress active in both Poland and the United States.-Early life:...
, and the role of the Australian man – Wiesław Gołas. In 1999 Mazowsze also appeared in Andrzej Wajda
Andrzej Wajda
Andrzej Wajda is a Polish film director. Recipient of an honorary Oscar, he is possibly the most prominent member of the unofficial "Polish Film School"...
’s movie Pan Tadeusz
Pan Tadeusz
Pan Tadeusz, the full title in English: Sir Thaddeus, or the Last Lithuanian Foray: A Nobleman's Tale from the Years of 1811 and 1812 in Twelve Books of Verse is an epic poem by the Polish poet, writer and philosopher Adam Mickiewicz...
, in the scene of the traditional Polish dance – the Polonaise
Polonaise
The polonaise is a slow dance of Polish origin, in 3/4 time. Its name is French for "Polish."The polonaise had a rhythm quite close to that of the Swedish semiquaver or sixteenth-note polska, and the two dances have a common origin....
.