A Polish opera becomes violin fantasy
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Elzbieta Tokarska (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Marjorie Bagley
Abstract: Stanislaw Moniuszko (1819-1872) is considered the father of Polish opera, yet he is completely unknown outside of his native country. His contributions to Polish culture were enormous, including works like twelve volumes of Spiewniki Domowe (Domestic Songbooks), the operas Halka and Straszny Dwor (The Haunted Manor), the operettas Loteria (The Lottery), Nowy Dziedzic (The New Landlord), the cantatas including Sonety Krymskie (Crimean Sonnets), Pani Twardowska, and orchestral overtures Bajka (Fairytale) and Kain. Stanislaw Moniuszko was a great patriot with a profound sense of duty that his art must promote Polish music, language, and culture, which is very significant considering he lived in a time of Polish history when the country was taken off the map. Moniuszko composed twelve volumes of Spiewniki Domowe to the poetry of Polish poets of his time, including Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855), Józef Ignacy Kraszewski (1812-1887), and Jan Czeczot (1796-1846). His purpose was to educate Polish people about their music and poetry and persuade amateur musicians to invest their time making music together. The opera Halka depicts the socioeconomic conflicts of that time in Poland using the tragic love story of a common highlander girl, Halka, and a nobleman, Janusz. Moniuszko had to wait many years to see his work staged due to censorship, finances, and the political situation. The composer included many elements of characteristic Polish music, including national dances like mazurka and polonaise, and mountain peasant’s dance - tance goralskie. Moniuszko also included folk tunes in his memorable arias like Gdybym rannym slonkiem and Szumia jodly.
A Polish opera becomes violin fantasy
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Created on 5/1/2022
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2022
- Keywords
- Fantasy, Halka, Moniuszko, Opera, Tokarska
- Subjects
- Moniuszko, Stanislaw, $d -1872. $t Halka $x Analysis, appreciation