Żywe czy martwe? O ewolucji warstwy melodycznej polskich pieśni religijnych

Abstract

The authors focus on changes and mutations in melodic layer of Catholic Church music in Poland. The analysis of the sole melody reveals various influences of Gregorian chants, Protestant songs and gospel music, as well as folk melodies from many different countries. Connected with this is the problem of authorship of some songs. Polish sacred music is a conglomaerate of diverse melodies, some of which seem to be resistant to any change while others are changing continously, often borrowing rhytmical and melodic motives from popular music.