Solowa twórczość wokalna Jana Sztwiertni - charakterystyka stylistyczna i aspekty wykonawcze

Abstract

The work is an attempt to stylistically characterize the solo vocal artistic work of Jan Sztwiertnia — a teacher, organist and composer connected with Cieszyn, whose great talent and perspectives of musical career were interrupted by the World War II. As a student of Music Conservatory in Katowice, after the composer concert in May 1939, he received a scholarship for further musical studies in Paris. The war shattered these plans. Arrested and settled in the concentration camp in Gusen, he died in August 1940 aged 29. In spite of a short career, he left a series of compositions among which special attention should be given to a symphonic poem Śpiący rycerze w Czantorii, Stylizowane tańce śląskie, Suita beskidzka as well as numerous chamber and choral works. An important place in his composer’s output is given to a solo vocal work. Sztwiertnia is also the author of a stage work referred to as the folk opera entitled Sałasznica and songs sung with the piano, such as Trzy pieśni do słów Leopolda Staffa, a collection of Pieśni ludowe śląskie known from the post-war edition as Pieśni nadolziańskie, youth songs from opus 2: Na rozstanie and Nie wolno mi o Tobie śnić to lyrics by Leon Rygier, and a composition to Wykołysałem Cię, a poem by Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer. The very text analyses all songs sung with the piano and solo fragments of the folk opera Sałasznica, a work proving his composer’s talent. The work is addressed to those who are willing to get interested in the composer and his works, yet particularly useful for those artists who intend to insert solo works by Jan Sztwiertnia into their repertoire.