Published: 2019-10-041

Existential and patriotic reflection in the works of Augustyn Bloch

Joanna SCHILLER-RYDZEWSKA
Edukacja Muzyczna
Section: Research articles
https://doi.org/10.16926/em.2018.13.02

Abstract

The works of Augustyn Bloch bear the mark of a specific dichotomy. On the one hand, there appear humorous themes, lined with self-irony and humour, and on the other hand deeply reflective, marked by the stigma of fear of death, touching the issue of the sense of human existence. In this trend of thoroughly composing music, the composer also attempts to account for the traumatic experiences of wartime, he points out his opposition to the deception of the communist regime.

The themes of Bloch’s works in this trend have a double source. On the one hand, these are thoughts arising from the religious tradition. Here the composer simply refers to the essence of God by using prayer and biblical texts – e.g. Ajelet, daughter of Jephthah, For Your light will come, Do not kill! On the other hand, the creator’s reflections follow a completely secular path, based on existential poetry and philosophy – for example, Espressioni, Wordsworth Songs. Both thematic areas of the composer’s reflections that refer to the meaning of an individual entangled in the border situation are complemented by the patriotic theme in such works as: Poem about Warsaw, Oratory, or the already mentioned Do not kill! These three works emphatically comment on dramatic histo- rical events: the tragedy of the Warsaw Insurgents who were alone in the fight, the introduction ofmartial law and the murder of Father Jerzy Popiełuszko.

Keywords:

Augustyn Bloch, Augustyn Bloch’s achievement,, existential reflection, patriotic is- sues in music, patriotic issues in music, the work of Polish composers of the 20th century, modern Polish music, musical creativity behind the Iron Curtain

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SCHILLER-RYDZEWSKA, J. (2019). Existential and patriotic reflection in the works of Augustyn Bloch. Edukacja Muzyczna, 13, 37–52. https://doi.org/10.16926/em.2018.13.02

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