Polonaise to mark centenary of independence
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
07.06.2018 08:30
Emil Wojtacki of Kraków has won a competition for a traditional polonaise composition to mark the centenary of Poland's regained independence this year.
Photo: geralt/pixabay.com/CC0 Creative Commons
One hundred and six compositions were entered in the competition.
Janusz Marynowski, managing director of the Sinfonia Varsovia orchestra which organized the competition, said the piece was the "spectacular work of a mature composer who is in perfect command of modern techniques and knows how to draw on tradition."
Paweł Siek and Ireneusz Boczek were awarded second and third places while 12-year-old Adam Józef Falenty, the youngest entrant in the competition, received an honourable mention.
Prize-winning compositions will be recorded by Sinfonia Varsovia and released on CD in August. Sinfonia Varsoia will perform the pieces on September 29 during the La Folle Journee Festival in Warsaw, while the public will be able to dance the polonaise in the Polish capital to the tune of the Wojtacki's winning composition.
The polonaise is one of Poland’s national dances, though many sources describe it as a stately ceremonial procession rather than a dance. It originated among Polish aristocracy in the 16th century. (mk/vb)