STANKO: NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
Trumpeter Tomasz Stanko is arguably the most important jazz musician to emanate from Poland. In fact, his contribution to the music extends throughout Europe and around the world. In 2000, Jazz Forum magazine's critics' poll named Stanko as the "Musician of the decade". Two years later, he was honoured as the very first winner of the European Jazz Prize which is intended to recognize outstanding European jazz musicians.
Stanko began his tenure as a major force in European free jazz in the early 1960s when he formed a quartet which also featured pianist Adam Makowicz. In the mid-1960s, he played with Krzysztof Komeda in a group that revolutionized European jazz. From 1968 to 1973 he led his own quintet, a group which also included violinist Zbigniew Seifert. Besides his work as a leader in the 1970s, he also worked with such influential creative jazz artists as Michal Urbaniak, Cecil Taylor, Gary Peacock and Edward Vesala. In the 1980s, he collaborated with James Spaulding, Chico Freeman, Jack DeJohnette and Rufus Reid.
His most recent recordings, "Soul of Things" and "Suspended Night", feature the quartet that will join him for his North American tour in June: the Tomasz Stanko Quartet, with Tomasz Stanko - trumpet, Marcin Wasilewski - piano,
Slawomir Kulkiewicz - bass, Michal Miskiewicz - drums. The three sidemen were only teenagers when Stanko took them under his wing in 1994. They quickly developed into his band of choice for all Polish engagements and they have accompanied him on his two most recent North American tours. They also perform as a trio under the name Simple Acoustic Trio but their first commitment is to Stanko. "He is our country's greatest jazz musician," says pianist Marcin Wasilewski.
The citation from the European Jazz Prize jury says it all: "While Stanko has obviously drawn on American models, he has developed a unique sound and personal music that is instantly recognizable and unmistakably his own, rooted in his Slavic heritage, romantic upbringing and classical education, which he received in Cracow before starting a jazz career in the early '60s. His distinctive rough tone conveys a sense of drama, melancholy, sadness and existential pain. A free-jazz pioneer, he went to become one of the finest trumpeters, a world-class player, a stylist, a charismatic performer and original composer, his music now assuming a simplicity of form and mellowness that comes with years of work, exploration and experience. Tomasz Stanko—a true master and leader of European jazz."
Tomasz Stanko Quartet—2 Performances in Southern California:
 June 13: Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 7 and 9:30 pm
1008 Wall St. La Jolla, CA 92037
reservation line: 858.454.5872, $18/23
June 14: Jazz Bakery, 8:00 and 9:30 PM
3233 Helms Ave. Culver City, CA 90034
reservation line: 310.271.9039, $20
Photograph by Leszek Pilichowski
For more information on Tomasz Stanko and his North American Tour, visit www.stanko.polishjazz.com.
SAN FRANCISCO CHOPIN COMPETITION
The Annual San Francisco Chopin Competition for Young Pianists is open to pianists fifteen years old or younger, residing or studying in the San Francisco Bay Area. The competitio is organized by The Chopin Foundation of the United States—Council of San Francisco.
The Ninth Annual Competition will take place on 5 June 2004 from 9:30 am - 6:00 pm in Hellman Hall of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Hellman Hall is located at 1201 Ortega (at 19th Avenue). The competition is open to the public and admission is free. The Concert of the Winners will take place the following day, 6 June at 4 pm, also in Hellman Hall. For this concert, a donation of $5 is requested. For more information call 925-247-0894 or write to ChopinSF@aol.com.
JEWISH CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN NY
 
JUNE 7 - 10, 2004
Program Description
Schedule of Events
Information about the Jewish Cultural Festival
PIASA ANNUAL MEETING
The 62nd Annual Meeting of the Polish Institute of Arts & Sciences of America will take place on Friday, June 4 and Saturday June 5, 2004 (8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.). This national multi-disciplinary conference on Polish and Polish-American Studies is sponsored by PIASA, with the cooperation of its host, Northeastern University in Boston, MA. H.E. Przemyslaw Grudzinski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C. will address the conference on Saturday, June 5, during the Gala Banquet that will end the event. Music highlights: Composers of Poland presentation/discussion, featuring Kurpiński's "Principles of Music" and Its Democratization by Anne Swartz and "Lutosławski and His Manuscripts in Los Angeles" by Maja Trochimczyk.
The full program of the meeting is available at: http://www.piasa.org/62annualmeeting.pdf. For more information, email Dr. Thaddeus Gromada at tgromada@mindspring.com.
CHOPIN FESTIVAL IN PARIS
18 June to 14 July 2004
Every year for the past 20, the Société Chopin ŕ Paris has organized a festival of Chopin's music. This year, the society and the festival are especially honored because this year is a special one for the relationship between France and Poland. The is the year of Poland's entrance into the European Union and of France's nation-wide, year-long celebration of Poland's culture and history, Nova Polska. The almost daily concerts all feature one or more pieces by Chopin plus works by other Polish and non-Polish composers, played by internationally-reknowned artists.
For a calendar of events in English, visit infochopin.plf. The official website of the Festival organizers is www.frederic-chopin.com.
NEWEST PWM EDITIONS
The Polish music publishers Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzycne feature the following two items on their web page. The newest score for violin and piano is Grazyna
Bacewicz's, Najpiekniesza Bacewicz [The Most Beautiful
Bacewicz], a selection of this composer's most beautiful and
famous violin works. (Note: Look for Chandos' newest
recording this fall of Bacewicz violin works with soloist
Joanna Kurkowicz).
Also, the 8th Edition of the Polish Music Encyclopedia, edited by
Elżbieta Dziebowska, emphasizes the life and works of Poles
throughout the ages: composers, performers, theorists,
librettists and poets, jazz, pop and classical musicians. It also includes non-Poles who have effected the world of Polish music, like Ravel, Prokofiev, Rameau and Rousseau among others.
NEW NEW YORKERS FESTIVAL
The "NEW NEW YORKERS and their Friends" festival in Warsaw will showcase the contributions Polish émigrés have made to American culture. Polish, Polish-American and non-Polish artists who have collaborated with or have been influenced by their Polish counterparts in the creative ferment of New York City will be featured. The festival will showcase a full range of cultural events: music, dance, film, theater, literature and the visual arts.
While American cultural programs are often featured in Warsaw, few in Poland are aware of the depth of talent represented by Polish and other émigrés living in the United States, with New York being the natural hub for artists of all kinds. There is a great and largely untold story of how Polish and other foreign talent infuses New York City's cultural life with new ideas and unique perspectives; how artists who are not native to New York become New Yorkers. It is also a story of the union of diverse ideas and inspirations, forms and atmospheres in New York City, a world capital of international culture.
The festival will take place in Warsaw from June 25th to July 4th—culminating on American Independence Day. It will take place in a range of cultural venues throughout the city and feature activities aimed at the general public. Possible events include: concerts on an outdoor stage, theatrical performances, poetry readings, film screenings, art exhibits and seminars.
For more information, please visit www.newnewyorkers.pl.
INTERDISCIPLINARY CHOPIN
The Age of Chopin: Interdisciplinary Inquiries is a new collection edited by Halina Goldberg, in which leading international scholars uncover the political, social, and aesthetic backdrop to Chopin's life and works. This multidisciplinary collection addresses Chopin's life and oeuvre in various cultural contexts of his era. Fourteen original essays by internationally known scholars suggest new connections between his compositions and the intellectual, literary, artistic, and musical environs of Warsaw and Paris. Individual essays consider representations of Chopin in the visual arts; reception in the United States and in Poland; analytical aspects of the mazurkas and waltzes; and political, literary, and gender aspects of Chopin's music and legacy. Several senior scholars represent the fields of American, Western European, and Polish history; Slavic literature; musicology; music theory; and art history. Contributors include Zofia Chechlińska, Maja Trochimczyk, James Parakilas, Irena Poniatowska, Sandra Rosenblum, Daniel Stone and others. This books is published by and distributed by the Indiana University Press and is available at www.indiana.edu.
ELSNER REMEMBERED
The 150th anniversary of Józef Elsner's death took place on
the 18th of April. He is most known for his role as Fryderyk
Chopin's teacher. Not as well known is the fact that he
wrote more than 400 compositions, with special emphasis on
sacred music. Only recently has a Mass in B major been
identified in the Poznan Archiodese Archives as Elsner's
composition written in 1801. Up to now the manuscript had
been considered lost.
About 130 of Elsner's works are masses, oratorios, passions,
motets, hymns and offertories and they are considered his
most serious and valuable works. According to Marta Pielack
Chopin greatly admired his teacher and said so in three of
his letters. A long bibliography follows her article (Ruch
Muzyczny 18 April).
SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS IN POLAND
- 14TH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SACRAL MUSIC: considered today to be one of the capital city's premiere festivals and one of the most significant events of its kind in the world. It was created in 1991 on the initiative of organist Przemyslaw Kapitula, who viewed the event as a celebration of the 4th Pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II to his homeland. The festival fundamentally aims to present the musical works of Christianity and other religions in an attractive form. Since the first edition, Warsaw's churches have hosted religious music concerts that have explored both the historical and formal aspects of the genre. Another interesting facet of the event is the promotion it accomplishes by juxtaposing the work of Polish composers against recognized world masterpieces. Warsaw, May 30 - June 6, 2004.
- THE 1ST HANDEL FESTIVAL, TORUN 2004 :sixteen concerts that will present the works of George Friedrich Handel (1685-1759) against a broad panorama of German, English, Italian and French music of the 17th and 18th centuries. This festival will bring together a wide variety of international performers. Torun, June 4 - June 12, 2004. For more information, visit www.haendeltorun.pl.
LUBLIN DANCE IN NY
Lublin Dance Theatre, "Flowers and the Moon"
photo: Jaroslaw Cieslikowski
3 workshops: June 11 at 11 am - 12:30 pm, June 12 at 5 - 6:30 pm, June 13 at 1 - 2:30 pm
Tickets: $20 per event
For detailed information call Marilyn Danitz at (212) 222-7204 or for reservations call (212) 769-3789.
For more information contact Wendy Jessup at wendyjessup1@aol.com.
Performance and workshops will be held at the Merce Cunningham Dance Space, 55 Bethune Street, New York City.
For more information on the rest of the dance festival, see schedule and information pages at the Polish Cultural Institute.
LACMA EXHIBITION
JUNE 13 — OCTOBER 3, 2004
Beyond Geometry: Experiments in Form 1940s - 1970s, a landmark exhibition at the L.A. County Museum of Art, examines the role of radically simplified form and systematic strategies in the evolution of vanguard art across the West in the decades following the Second World War. Covering Central and Western Europe and North and South America, Beyond Geometry is the first exhibition to treat these issues art-historically, in a broad international context.
Stanisław Dróżdż, "Between", installation, 1977
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 857-6000 (general information)
For more information, visit www.lacma.org or www.polishculture-nyc.org.
60th ANNIVERSARY: WARSAW UPRISING AND MONTE CASSINO
On its 60th anniversary, CNN premieres a groundbreaking documentary on a chapter in the war that is little-known outside of Poland. "Warsaw Rising: The Forgotten Soldiers of World War II—The 'Powstanie' Uprising of 1944" tells the story of the Polish Resistance and its 63-day battle against the Nazis, a battle fought while the Western world celebrated the successful Allied landings at Normandy. Through interviews with survivors and use of rarely seen footage filmed by the Underground Army, CNN Presents offers an unflinching look at how a country known as the "first ally" was abandoned in its hour of need.
In the summer of 1944, an underground army of ordinary citizens in Warsaw rose up against their Nazi occupiers in the belief that the D-Day invasion in the west and Soviet advances in the east gave them a chance for freedom. Underground fighters, many of them teenagers, fought with homemade weapons against a heavily fortified German army. They believed the fight would last for only the few days until the Allies could come to their aid. Instead, they fought for 63 days alone. "There was a sense of frustration and injustice that was quite, quite strong," said Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor, whose relatives lived through the Nazi occupation in Poland.
When the Poles most needed Allied help, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin refused to let his troops cross the Vistula River to aid the Poles in liberating Warsaw. And Poland's other allies, the United States and England, were reluctant to force the issue with Stalin. Unknown to Polish leaders and citizens at the time, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill had struck a deal with Stalin, ceding him control over Central Europe in return for his help fighting the Germans.
Warsaw Uprising Monument
Also, the first book in twenty years about the Battle of Monte Cassino will be published on June 1, 2004. This monumental work of history—originally published in the U.K. and now being released in the U.S. by Doubleday—marks the 60th anniversary of the end of that long and terrible confrontation between Allied forces (from more than a dozen countries, including Poland) and the Nazi army. Based on groundbreaking archival research and the compelling first-person accounts of four hundred survivors on both sides of the conflict, Matthew Parker's MONTE CASSINO brings to light how incessant disagreements and backbiting at the Allied command level contributed to the carnage and confusion. The destruction of the fourteenth-century monastery itself becomes a powerful symbol of the toll war takes on history and culture. The book amply recognizes the soldiers of the Polish Second Corps who captured the abbey and raised their Polish flag on the summit in that bittersweet and controversial Allied victory of May 17, 1944. Officially the courageous contribution of those Polish soldiers remained, for assorted reasons of state, decidedly under-appreciated for decades on both sides of the Iron Curtain.
Information for this article was taken from a CNN press release and the Polish Cultural Institute.
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A documentary on the legendary Polish harpsichordist
Wanda Landowska was reviewed by Robert Haskins in American
Record Guide (May/June '04). The film furnishes "easy-to-
understand commentary on the differences between Landowska's
Pleyel and historical harpsichords" by "music instrument
curator Lawrence Libin and instrument builder Willard
Martin." The "bulk of the attention," however, "remains on
Landowska herself: her amazing beauty, her generous and
loving personality, her charming voice, and her commitment to
an uncompromising and completely personal artistic
vision...Great stuff." Landowska also composed some Polish
dances, which she regularly performed.
Virgin 7243 5 45620. Chopin: Misc. Piano Works.
Babbie may not have realized it at the time, but she was not alone in her yearning for the music of Poland while living in the Midwestern United States. Down below her seat in the audience, on the conductor's stand, was another Pole who loved the music of his homeland and longed to preserve that tradition in America: 