Camerata Silesia / Baroque Sonus / Szostak / Gorczycki / The most Celebrated Composer of the Polish Baroque - NOSPR
Camerata Silesia / Baroque Sonus / Szostak / Gorczycki / The most Celebrated Composer of the Polish Baroque
Next time you are exploring the historic monuments of Kraków, seek out a medium-sized plaque in the Wawel Cathedral – bronze marble, richly ornamented. Its Latin inscription translates to English as follows: ‘In memory of the most venerable Father Grzegorz Gorczycki (…), Kapellmeister, by all called the Jewel of the Priesthood’. For more than half his life, Poland’s most celebrated Baroque composer was closely associated with the cathedral on the Wawel Hill. Here he served as Kapellmeister (i.e. ‘master of the chapel choir’) and looked after the prisoners held in the towers of the royal castle.
Gorczycki’s oeuvre was almost exclusively religious, composed in direct service to the liturgy. His works reveal both a masterful command of Renaissance polyphony and an evident fascination with the newer concertato style. In the setting of his Completorium – i.e. Compline, or an evening prayer – one is struck by the play of contrasting colouring, textures, and dynamics. Solo voices are prominently featured, brought together in virtually every possible configuration. The concert programme is further enriched by motets in which the influence of stile antico, or Renaissance polyphony, is more pronounced. Even here, however, Gorczycki employs refined rhetorical devices worthy of the finest achievements of the Italian Baroque.
Gorczycki’s music has long held a significant place in the repertoire of Camerata Silesia. While the Katowice-based vocal ensemble is often associated with contemporary music and special projects, it is worth recalling that early music forms the very roots of its artistic identity. Speaking of roots, one should also note Gorczycki’s Silesian origins: he was born in Rozbark, now a district of Bytom, located only a few kilometres from the NOSPR.
Szymon Maliszewski
Concert duration: approximately 60 minutes
Everything you need to know before you come to the NOSPR – practical advice for those attending events
We kindly request that you familiarise yourself with the information concerning parking in the Culture Zone – important information about parking.
Upcoming events

NOSPR / Liebreich / Raubo / The 90th Anniversary of the Orchestra
Concert Hall

JazzKLUB / Jazz Studio Orchestra of the Polish Radio / The Revival of a Legendary Ensemble
Concert Hall
Last tickets
The ARD Competition winner's concert / The poetic sound of cello and harp
Chamber Hall

Silesian String Quartet and Its Guests / Concert cycle: The Strange and the Curious (1)
Chamber Hall
Buy ticket