Great Polish Composers: Wladyslaw Zelenski

July 6, 1837 – January 23, 1921

Wladyslaw Zelenski was musically gifted from a very young age. He soon began taking piano lessons, first from Casimir Wojciechowski and then from John Germasza.. And continued studies in song and composition with F. Mirecki. In Prague, he studied the organ with J. Krejc and piano with A. Dreyschock.  He also attended the prestigious Jagiellonian University, studying philosophy.

 

By the time Zelenski reached twenty years of age he already composed two string quartets, trios, and an overture. He conducted the premiere concert of Ouverture, on July 29, 1857.  Quite amazing accomplishments for such a young man.

Zelenski stayed in Paris from 1866 to 1870 studying composition at the Conservatory with N.H. Reber and B. Damcke. Two years later he went to Warsaw to accept a position as director of the Music Institute, which previously was managed by Moniuszko.  In 1878 Zelenski was selected to be the artistic director of the Warsaw Music Society.  

In 1881 returned to Krakow to settle down and work as a teacher at the Krakow Music Society, and became its director a few years later.. He counted among his students the ranks of H. Opienski, F. Szopski, Z. Stojowski, B. Wallek-Walewski, K. Garbusinski, Sz, Profic.

Zelenski's work is comprised by numerous 5 string quartets, sextet, trios, piano quartets, works for violin and piano,sonatas, symphonies and an large collection of songs.

He was born in Grodkowice and was the father of physician and writer Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński.

Wladyslaw Zelenski died on January 23, 1921 and was buried in the family tomb at Rakowice Cemetery, Krakow, Poland

Graphics Zofia Stryjeńska - Janek opera by Wladyslaw-Zelenski

Notable works

OPERAS

Goplana

Janek

Konrad Wallenrod

Stara baśń

SYMPHONIC COMPOSITIONS

W Tatrach (In the Tatra Mountains), overture, Op.27

Echa leśne (Forest Echos), overture

Suita tańców polskich (Suite of Polish Dances), Op.47

Symfonie lesne (Spring Symphony), Op.41

Polonez koncertowy (Concert Polonaise)

Trauerklänge, Elegisches Andante, Op.36

CONCERTANTE

Concerto E-flat major for piano and orchestra, Op. 60

Romance for cello and orchestra, Op.40

CHAMBER MUSIC

Piano Quartet in C minor, Op.61

Piano Trio in E major, Op.22

Romance for violin and piano, Op.16

Sonata in F major for violin and piano, Op.30

String Quartet in F major, Op.28

String Quartet in A major, Op.42

Wariacje na temat własny (Variations on an Original Theme) for string quartet, Op.21 (1883)

KEYBOARD

2 Mazurkas for piano, Op.31

25 Preludes for organ, Op.38

Marsz uroczysty (Ceremonial March) for piano, Op.44

Rêverie for piano, Op.48

SONGS

 Władysław is author of over 100 songs, most notable are:

"Na Anioł Pański"

"Słowiczku mój"

"Zaczarowana królewna"

WORKS WITH OPUS NUMBER

Op.1 - Gdy pozdrowię. Śplew na Br. Krakau, Grzybowsk: words by Adam Mickiewicz (ca. 1857-1860, pub.1864)

Op.1 also - String Quartet in E (mentioned in Culture.pl worklist. Lost?)

Op.2 - Moja pieszczotka for voice and piano

Op.2 also - String Quartet (see Culture.pl worklist. Again lost?)

Op.3 - Spiewak w obcej stronle na Br. Krakau, Grzybowsk 1860 or earlier (words by Bohdan Zaleski)

Op.3 - also, piano sonata no.0?                        

Op.4 - Tęddy, tęddy leciał ptaszek. Duo na S. i Ca. z Fortep. - 1864 or earlier

Also used for a march published or republished in 1891?

Op.5 - Piano sonata no.1 in G minor (pub.1859)

Op.6 - Pajęczyna. (sim. Opp. 1,3.)

Op.7 - 2 Pieśni (Songs). Krakau: Grzybowski, 1864.

            Spotkanie sie nasze gdzieśs daleko.

            Zakochana.

Op.8 - 3 Polish songs.

            Trylot J. B. Zaleskiego

            W imienniku A. Mickiewicza

            W spomnienie J. B. Zaleskiego

Op.9 - Valse-caprice - C.F. Kahnt, 1864

Op.9 also - String Sextet in C major

Op.10 - Pięć śpiewów z królodworskiego rękopisu (songs to words by Vaclav Hanka) (ca.1862)

Op.11 - 2 Morceaux de salon (Romanza, nocturne) Kahnt, 1864

Op.12 - 2 Lieder f. 1 Singst. m. Pfte. (by 1894.)

            Czarna sukienka.

            Do Polek.

Op.13 - Rojenia wiośniane for voice and piano (words by Zaleski)

Op.14 - 2 Songs after Mikołaj Bołoz Antoniewicz (ca.1864)

            Mój kwiatek

            Posyłka

Op.15 - Lyrical waltzes for cello and piano 1871

Op.16 - 2 Morceaux de Salon- 1866?

Op.16 - Romance for violin and piano ?

Op.17 - 6 Character Pieces (Vienna, Gotthard, 1871)

            1. Heft:    Præludium , Promenade ,  Tanz

            2. Heft :  Canon, Scherzo, Abschied

Op.18 - 2 Pieces (Humoreske, Gavotte) 1871

Op.19 - 3 Songs (ca.1864?)

            Młodo zaswatana (Zaleski)

            Jaskółka (Teofil Lenartowicz)

            Łzy (Lenartowicz)

Op.20 - Piano Sonata No.2, Op.20 in E minor (pub.1876)

Op.21 - Variationen über ein original Thema for String Quartet (1883)

Op.22 - Piano Trio in E♭ major (pub.1875)

Op.23 - 2 Songs (ca.1870?):

            Sen nocy letniej (Miron)

            Pod okienkiem (Miron)

Op.24 - Dzikie sny for voice and piano after Mieczysław Romanowski (ca.1870)

Op.25 - Pieśni Gabrieli for voice and piano after Narcyza Żmichowska (ca.1873)

Op.26 - Z teki Józefa Kościelskiego for voice and piano after Józef Kościelski (ca.1878)

Op.27 - Im Tatra-Gebirge. Charakterist. Tongemälde f. Orch. (1883 in reduction)

Op.28 - String Quartet No.1, Op.28 (1883)

Op.29 - 2 Pieces for violin and piano:

            Romance (pub.1912, Cracow: Piwarski & Co.; probably earlier.)

            Fantastic Dance

Op.30 - Violin Sonata, Op.30 in F (pub. 1879 by Warsaw: Hosick, soon after by Hofmeister)

Op.31 - 2 Mazurkas, Op.31 (1880)

Op.32 - Berceuse, Op.32 for violin (or cello) and piano in F (1880)

Op.33 - Jagdlied (Chór strzelcóro): „Hallo! durch weite Feldgebreite“ f. Männerchor m. 4 Hörnern (od. Pfte). (1882)

Op.34 - Zwei Männerchöre m. deutschem u. polnischem Texte. No. 1. Schifferlied: „Geschwinde zu Schiffe“. (1882)

Op.35 - Grand Scherzo de Concert (Es) p. Piano (1883)

Op.36 - Trauerklänge - elegiac andante for orchestra (pub.1884)

Op.37 - 2 Polonaises for orchestra, 1881-2

Op.38 - 25 Preludes for Organ (zwei, drei- u. vierstimm. (od. Harm.)) (1881) Warschau, Kruziński & Lewi.

            Heft 1 (No. 1–16). Zwei- u. dreistimm. Praeludien.

            2 (No. 17–25). Vierstimm. Praeludien.

Op.39

Op.40 - Romanze cello & orch. 1885

Op.41 - Overture "Forest Echoes"

Op.42 - String Quartet No.2, Op.42

Op.43 - Prelude-caprice for piano (1888–93. Pub. Doblinger, 1893.)

Op.44 - Marsz uroczysty for piano (Marsz uroczysty ku czci niesmiertelnego wieszcza Adama Mickiewicza)

Op.45 - Gavotte for piano

Op.46 - Grand polonaise for piano

Op.47 - Orchestral suite - pub.1894 (may date to 1878?)

Op.48 - Reverie for piano

Op.49 

Op.50 

Op.51 - Oda do młodości (Ode to Youth) (after Mickiewicz?) for orchestra (pub. 1901)

Op.52 - Moments from a Carnival, valse brillante for piano (pub. Krakau: Krzyżanowski, 1903)

Op.53 

Op.54 

Op.55 

Op.56 

Op.57 

Op.58 

Op.59

Op.60 - Piano Concerto in E♭ (premiered? 1904 May by Ignaz Friedman) (published by 1910 - Hofmeister's Monatsbericht (1911), p.10.)

Op.61 - Piano Quartet in C minor (published by 1910 - Hofmeister's Monatsbericht (1911), p.10.)

Op.62 - Theme varié for piano

Op.63 - 2 Pieces for piano:    Toccata and  Idylle

Op.64 - ?

Op.65 - ?

Op.66 - ?

Op.67 - Violin Sonata No.2 (1917)

WORKS WITHOUT OPUS NUMBER

 

Cantata in honor of JI Kraszewski for male voices and orchestra (1879)

Cantata in honor of the victory of John Sobieski at Vienna (1883)

Konrad Wallenrod, opera in 4 acts (libretto by Zygmunt Sarnecki and Władyslaw Noskowski after the poem of the same name by Mickiewicz. 1880–84, premiered 1885 in Lwów.)

Goplana , romantic opera in 3 acts (Ludomił German, after a drama by Juliusz Słowacki) (1886-1891? 1895?. Premiered 1896 in Krakow.)

Janek , an opera in two scenes (Ludomił German) (1891-1900, premiered 1900 in Lwów) (vocal score published 1903 by Krzyżanowski)

The old fairy tale (Stara baśń), an opera in four acts (1905-1906, premiered 1907 in Lwów)

Cantata in honor of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Jagiellonian University; for male choir and orchestra (1900)

2 Symphonies (1871–72, 1912?)

Boga Rodzico for mixed choir (unpublished, signed F.B.K. 5/11-1910.. At University of Pittsburgh library.)

Pieśni Kazimierza Tetmajera (4 Songs) :

A kiedy będziesz moją żoną

Cień Chopina

Na Anioł Pański

Blada róża

Czy pamiętasz (song) (pub. 1901, Cracow: Krzyżanowski)

Z nieboskiéj komedyi (pub. 1901, Cracow: Krzyżanowski)

String Sextet?