For the first time in the history of Nostalgia Festival Poznań this year’s edition will be entirely devoted to a Polish composer – Henryk Mikołaj Górecki. The festival, which through music draws on the roots of nations of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and combines them with modern motifs, will take place on 4-6 November 2016 in Poznań. Górecki’s music will be read anew by Marcin Masecki.
Simultaneously contemplative and exuberant – such is the music of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, who took the world by storm with his Symphony of Sorrowful Songs. The composer drew on the rhythmical and melodious treasure house that is Polish folk, early and sacral music, while simultaneously employing modern 20th century composing techniques. As a result Górecki’s works became a part of world’s musical heritage and constitute a document of a specific era, particular place in Europe and a unique personality.
Marcin Masecki, an avant-garde composer and pianist accompanied by a drummer, Jerzy Rogiewicz, shall prepare a musical transcription of “Sanctus Adalbertus” op. 71 especially for Nostalgia Festival. For a long time little was known about the existence of this work, apart from the fact that the composer had been planning to write a “big Adalbert” ( as opposed to the “small” one, i.e. “Salve, Sidus Polonorum”). It was only discovered after his death by the composer’s son, Mikołaj Górecki. Both compositions were created to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the patron saint of Poland, St. Adalbert. The Festival will celebrate one of the most important events for the development of Poland and Polish culture – the 1050th anniversary of Baptism of Poland. As a descendant of Polish musical tradition, Marcin Masecki in his transcription of Górecki’s work shall unveil tropes which are still pertinent and contemporary for all of us. The musicians shall premiere their new transcription together with a sixteen-person choir in the walls of the Jesuit church in Poznan.
The concert will be accompanied by film screenings presenting documentaries devoted to the composer, concert recordings and feature films with his compositions, conversations with artists and music criticism workshops with Meakultura.
The free-of-charge entry tickets will be available at Centrum Informacji Miejskiej (ul. Ratajczaka 44, Poznań) from 24 October. You can apply for the free-of-charge music criticism workshops with Meakultura from 17 to 31 October. Admission to film screenings and meetings is free. The concert will take place at the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of Consolation Churh (Kościół Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa i Matki Bożej Pocieszenia), ul.Szewska 18. The remaining events will take place at Malta Foundation, ul. Ratajczaka 44.