“Eternal Songs” Symphonic Poem by Mieczyslaw Karlowicz – Performance guide

"Eternal Songs" ("Odwieczne piesni") op.10 is a Symphonic Poem written by Polish composer Mieczyslaw Karlowicz (1876 – 1909). Born in Wisniew (now in Belarus), Karlowicz was a violinist, an orchestra director, a trained Alpinist, and a photographer. He was also a member of the group of composers known as Young Poland in Music (Mloda Polska Muzyce), whose members were Grzegorz Fitelberg, Ludomir Rozycki, Apolinary Szeluto, and Karol Szymanowsky. Karlowicz's music stemmed from his musical, philosophical, aesthetic, and literary experiences. Influenced by R. Strauss and R. Wagner, his musical language was that of a late Romantic style. Although he wrote, among other pieces cycle of songs and a well-known Violin concerto, he is best known as a composer of symphonic poems. While in Poland, he is considered one of the most prominent Polish composers of the 19th century. He is largely unknown outside of Poland, most likely due to his early and tragic death in the snow avalanche in the Tatra mountains. This Performance guide can be understood as a "handbook" written to affirm and advertise Karlowicz's music but, above all, to help performers/conductors get to know Karlowicz's musical language better, which will result in a better interpretation of this work. There are different ways of interpreting this piece which is used to explain the various ways of interpreting this symphonic poem ("Eternal Songs") I interviewed four prominent Polish conductors about their interpretations of this piece to single out different paths of performers' approaches to the same piece. The promotion of Karlowicz's music is an essential part of my work. However, even more, it is a better understanding of Karlowicz's musical language and his musical expression and style to help performers/conductors interpret the symphonic poem "Eternal Songs." In this dissertation, I focus on different styles of interpretations and show how Karlowicz's philosophical attitude towards life (pantheistic philosophy) and his fascination with (Polish) nature built and influenced his musical style and language."