Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Ignacy Jan Paderewski was born in Kuryłówka on November 6th, 1860. Paderewski was raised by his aunt after his mother died from complications from childbirth and his father was imprisoned by the Russian tsar for participating in the January Uprising when Ignancy was three. At the age of 12, Paderewski was accepted to the Warsaw Conservatory and joined the faculty at age 18. After losing his wife to complications of childbirth, Paderewski focused on his music and placed his child in the care of his friends as he set off to Berlin to master composition. In 1897 he made his Vienna debut and subsequently his career took off. Paderewski was regarded as one of the top interpreters of Chopin and Liszt and toured the U.S., Europe and the globe extensively. His opera, Manru, remains the only Polish opera to be performed at the Metropolitan Opera albeit in English. His composition style was influenced by Chopin, Debussy, and Wagner.
Paderewski was a well-known philanthropist and donated significant amounts of money for Polish orphans, victims of reprisals, endowed music posts, and scholarships for young musicians. From his philanthropic involvement, Paderewski entered public politics and served as the American representative of the Polish National Committee in Paris during World War I. After the fall of the partitions, and the reemergence of Poland as an independent state, Paderewski was appointed as the Prime Minister of Poland and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Paderewski eventually resigned from his position, but continued to represent Poland internationally and at the League of Nations. In 1922, Paderewski returned to music and gave up politics for the time being until 1939.
Paderewski became ill while on tour with pneumonia and died June 29th, 1941.
Works featured in our catalog include:
| Title of Work | Poet |
|---|---|
| Dola | Władysław Syrokomla |
| Gdy ostatnia róża zwiędłą | Adam Asnyk |
| Siwy koniu | Adam Asnyk |
| Szumi w gaju brzezina | Adam Asnyk |
| Chłopca mego mi zabrali | Adam Asnyk |
| Knowalijka | Adam Asnyk |
| Polały się łzy | Adam Mickiewicz |
| Piosnka dudarza | Adam Mickiewicz |
| Moja pieszczotka | Adam Mickiewicz |
| Nad wodą wielką | Adam Mickiewicz |
| Tylem wytrwał | Adam Mickiewicz |
| Gdybym się zmienił | Adam Mickiewicz |