Wacław of Szamotuły


Wacław z Szamotuł, also called Wacław Szamotulski and Venceslaus Samotulinus, was a Polish composer.

Life

Wacław z Szamotuł was a student at the Lubrański Academy in Poznań later studying at Kraków University in 1538. In 1547 or 1548 he was appointed composer to the court of Sigismund II Augustus. In 1555 Wacław left Kraków, having received the title of "royal composer." Nevertheless, during Szamotuly's lifetime his music was known outside of Poland.
He died early, and only a few of his works survive. In the words of Szymon Starowolski, who wrote the first concise biography of Wacław, "If the gods had let him live longer, the Poles would have no need to envy the Italians their Palestrina, Lappi or Vedana."
His motets In te Domine speravi and Ego sum pastor bonus were the first Polish musical compositions to be published abroad. According to Gustave Reese, Wacław's style may be seen in both of these motets; "the constant overlapping of phrases and full-fledged imitative style reveal Franco-Netherlandish influence."

Works

Motets ''In te, Domine, speravi Ego sum pastor bonus Nunc scio vere
Songs Alleluja, Chwalcie Pana Alleluia Nakłoń, Panie, ku mnie ucho Twoje Kryste dniu naszej światłości — a Lenten compline hymn Błogosławiony człowiek Modlitwa, gdy dziatki spać idą or Już się zmierzka. This is perhaps his best-known composition. Henryk Górecki has used this beautiful Renaissance melody in at least three compositions: Chorale in the Form of a Canon, Old Polish Music, and the First String Quartet, subtitled Już się zmierzcha.Pieśń o narodzeniu Pańskim or Pochwalmyż wszytcy społem Powszechna spowiedź. This composition has a homophonic texture, meaning that essentially all the notes occur at the same time, as contrasted with imitative polyphony.

Editions

*