Colours of Poland in Besiekiery: Laboratorium Pieśni

Artists:

• Laboratorium Pieśni:
  • Alina Jurczyszyn – vocals, flute, percussion
  • Kamila Bigus – vocals, shaman drums, rebab, violin
  • Lila Bosowska – vocals, percussion
  • Iwona Bajger – vocals
  • Magda Jurczyszyn-Turło – vocals, percussion
  • Alina Klebba – vocals
  • Karolina Stawiszyńska-Wiatrow – vocals, percussion

Program:

• traditional polyphonic songs from different parts of the world

Compere: Jasin Rammal-Rykała

Who created the first polyphonic songs in Europe: the clergymen composing within the walls of monasteries or the singers improvising under the thatch roofs in the country? This question still puzzles researchers even today. Polyphonic songs are currently present in the traditions of several regions: in the Balkans, the Alpine countries, central Italy, Sardinia and even in Iceland despite it being completely isolated from the continent. It is no accident that many of these regions have mountainous regions. The thud of polyphonic harmonic singing travelled extremely well amongst the elevated terrain and hills, which made communication easier for shepherds. “When you sing slowly, you have to sing with multiple voices for it to go far” explained the Polish highlanders to the ethnomusicologist Jadwiga Sobieska. They measured the intervals using their steps, walking among the highland meadows and fields. A selection of such polyphonic pieces will be performed by the female septet Laboratorium Pieśni (The Song Laboratory). The ensemble sings both a cappella and with the accompaniment of instruments from different parts of the world (such as the Indian shruti box or the African kalimba), presenting traditional songs in versions close to their folk counterparts but also with additionally enriched arrangements. The acumen of the singers includes five albums, two of which were nominated for the Fryderyki awards in the category “Album of the year – music of the world”. The ensemble gained many new fans thanks to their song “Tańcuj” (“Dance!”) from the soundtrack of the movie “The Peasants” – it has been played tens of millions of times and its popularity transcends the borders of Poland.

top photo: Laboratorium Pieśni, phot. Anna Maria Biniecka

It can be concluded with a high dose of probability that the walls of the Besiekiery castle have never resounded with music similar to that which will be played at the inauguration of this year’s “Colours”. Polyphonic music that will be performed by the Laboratorium Pieśni ensemble is not present in the folklore of central Poland. Moreover, during the Middle Ages there was a clear division between court and folk music. White singing was heard only in the village cottages, while the castles and palaces were filled with music with knightly and love-related themes. What sounds could have accompanied Andrzej Batory, one of the first masters of this castle, sitting together with his guests at the end of the 16th century? A lack of historical sources pushes us towards speculation. However, it is exceedingly likely that, especially during the bigger, more festive feasts, the castle was the performance stage for minstrels and troubadours – travelling singers accompanying themselves by playing the lute.