Because of the loss of artifacts in wars and occupations, most notably in the 20^th century, much of Poland's early musical heritage has been lost forever. Only since the middle of this past century has there been a concerted effort underway to resurrect and appreciate the remaining treasury of Polish music composed before 1800. What survives is not as extensive as that in France, Germany, Italy or the Netherlands; but the music that exists is testament to its central role in Poland as a beacon of Renaissance thought, innovation and discovery. Impetus for the arts came from the patronage of the Court and Church as elsewhere in Europe.

The origin of Polish music can be traced back to the 13^th century, by manuscripts found in Stary Sącz, containing polyphonic compositions related to the Parisian Notre Dame School. The guest women’s vocal ensemble, PEREGRINA (Oct. 6), will sing the earliest extant pieces – rare monophonic songs and sequences from 1000 AD – written for St. Adalbert, Otto III, and Boleslaw I (992–1025), the Polish ruler of the first, long-reigning Piast Dynasty – figureheads who engaged in medieval political high intrigue.

Coinciding with the new Renaissance movement, the next longest-reigning dynasty was that of the Jagiellonians (1386–1572). Although Kraków was the seat of the throne, there were other cultural centers in Poland as well. Active in the 15^th century, Mikołaj z Radomia (Nicolas of Radom) is the first notable Polish composer of vocal polyphony and 16^th -century organist, Jan z Lublina (Jan of Lublin) is known for his extensive collection of keyboard works. MAGDALENA BACZEWSKI (Oct. 13) will begin her harpsichord program with Jan of Lublin, progressing through an anthology of Polish keyboard works that will take us well into the 18^th century including “Kosciuszko’s Polonaise” performed at the Kosciuszko Foundation.

Kraków was among Europe's main cultural and commercial centers during the Renaissance. Many other attributes of Renaissance Poland testify to the country's significance on the European stage. There was a huge expansion in industry, transport and trade, of towns and the Jewish population. The Confederation of Warsaw proclaimed religious freedom in 1573 and in 1596 the Synod of Brześć (Brest-Litovsk) united the Orthodox Church with Rome. The Reformation and Counter-Reformation played a significant role, not least were the consequences of the Council of Trent (1545-63) that expunged many chants from the Roman Catholic liturgy. In cultural terms, this was Poland's 'Golden Age' (Złoty Wiek), amply evident in science and literature. But it is probably in its art and architecture that today, as non-Poles, we can best appreciate Renaissance Poland.

Marcin Leopolita (c. 1540-c. 1584), one of the most eminent Polish composers of the 16^th century, studied in the Kraków University and at the age of twenty was already a member of royal music ensemble at the court of King Zygmunt August. There are only a few compositions of Leopolita that remain: five religious motets and one mass. Performing choral works by Leoplita in its program, POLYHYMNIA (Oct. 12) will take us from the early Renaissance to the birth of the Baroque.

King Sigismund III Vasa moved his court from Kraków in 1596 and Warsaw became the capital of the Commonwealth (the dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch). Around the same time, the late Renaissance was moving toward baroque sensibilities and this new style emanating from Italy became all the rage.

Tarquinio Merula (1594/95–1665) was a composer, organist, and violinist. Although mainly active in Cremona, stylistically he was a member of the Venetian school and one of the most progressive Italian composers of the early 17^th century, especially in applying newly developed techniques to sacred music. In 1621, he went to Warsaw to work as an organist at the court of Sigismund III, returning to Cremona in 1626. Merula was a key figure in the early development of several forms which were to mature later in the baroque era, such as the cantata, the aria, the sonatas da chiesa and da camera, variations on a ground bass, and the sinfonia.

Native born Polish composer, Mikołaj Zieleński’s only known surviving works are two 1611 liturgical cycles of polychoral compositions in the Venetian style. These were dedicated to the Archbishop of Gniezno and comprise eight part-books, containing 131 pieces written for various vocal and also mixed vocal/instrumental ensembles along with three instrumental fantasias. His works are typical of the Seconda practica style of early Monteverdi. Zieleński’s music is the first known Polish music set in the style of the baroque. Bartłomiej Pękiel (fl. 1633) was a notable Polish composer who served the court in Warsaw from c. 1633 as head of the Royal Chapel.

The policies and actions of the first two elected kings from the Swedish House of Vasa, whose politics brought the Commonwealth into conflict with Sweden, culminated in the war known as The Deluge (1655), one of the events that mark the end of the Commonwealth's Golden Age and the beginning of its decline. By the 18^th century, destabilization of its political system brought Poland to the brink of civil war and vulnerable to foreign influences. The country's system of an elected monarchy, combined with the increasingly self-regarding attitude of the Polish aristocracy, led to the further weakening of what, in earlier times, had been an admirable and mould-breaking system of government. While Western Europe developed strong military and political systems, Poland became fractious and its King Augustus II held court remotely in Dresden.

It was only as the century was drawing to a close, and the political situation was becoming increasingly unstable, that nationalism in music began to surface as a serious cultural aspect of Polish life. By then, as the Enlightenment belatedly took root in Poland, composers' attention was drawn increasingly to instrumental music and particularly to the genre of the symphony.

The 18^th century was a time of major development for Poland, and for Warsaw in particular, which became the center of things under Poland's last king, Stanisław II August Poniatowski, who reigned from 1764-95. Poniatowski became affectionately known as Król Staś (King Stash). Warsaw became a favorite meeting place for the who's who in the world of art, literature, intellectuals and statesmen under Stanislaw II. He was a patron of the arts and education, and it was during his reign that Poland's Age of Enlightenment or second Golden Age began (1730s–40s) and reached its peak, only to go into decline with the Third Partition of Poland (in 1795), and ending in 1822 when the Age of Romanticism began.

The name polonaiseis virtually the French word for Polish, identifying its origin among the Polish aristocracy who had borrowed a folk dance called chodzonyto function as an entry processional (not unlike the stately Renaissance pavane). This so-called polonaise, popularized throughout Europe, was then embraced by the Polish to become an integral part of their culture.

Polish Royalty

Mieszko I, duke of Poland (962–92), the first important member of the Piast dynasty

Cazimir (Kazimierz) Pułaski (Warsaw, March 6, 1745 – October 11, 1779) was a Polish nobleman, soldier and military commander who has been called "the father of American cavalry". Born in Warsaw and following in his father's footsteps he became interested in politics at an early age and soon became involved in the military and the revolutionary affairs in Poland at that time. Following a recommendation by Benjamin Franklin, Pulaski emigrated to North America to help in the cause of the American Revolutionary War. He distinguished himself throughout the revolution, most notably when he saved the life of George Washington. Pulaski became a general in the Continental Army, and created the Pulaski Cavalry Legion and reformed the American cavalry as a whole. At the Battle of Savannah, while leading a daring charge against British forces, he was wounded, and died shortly thereafter.

He has been remembered as a hero who fought for independence and freedom both in Poland and in the United States. Numerous places and events are named in his honor, and he is commemorated by many works of art. Pulaski is one of only seven people to be awarded honorary United States citizenship. Pulaski Day is celebrated Friday, October 11. The New York City Pulaski Day Parade will take place Sunday, Oct 6, 2013.

Tadeusz Kosciuszko (1746–1817) is a national hero of Poland, Belarus, Lithuania and the United States who fought in the Polish uprising against Russia and in the American Revolution. He was a firm believer in human rights and was a friend and admirer of Thomas Jefferson, with whom he shared the enlightenment ideals of inalienable human rights. He led the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising against Imperial Russia and the Kingdom of Prussia as Supreme Commander of the Polish National Armed Forces.

Kościuszko was born in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, in a village located in present-day Belarus. He left for France again due to financial difficulties. Upon learning of the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War while in France, Kościuszko moved to the United States in 1776 and participated in the fight as a Continental Army colonel. While in New York he helped design and supervised the construction of the garrisons at West Point, New York. In 1783, in recognition of his dedicated service, he was brevetted by the Continental Congress to the rank of brigadier general. Kościuszko was also an accomplished architect and artist; his portraits included one of his friends, Thomas Jefferson. Kosciuszko died October 15.