Yes, i've heard the 2nd movement a few times over the years in movies and commercials but didn't know who or where it came from. About 4 years ago I heard it again and was determined to find out more. Thankfully the station mentioned the composer and title of the work. FWD to today. I've probably listened to this piece with different soloists at least 500 times in the past 4 years. I've feel asleep to it. Played it while I worked. Cried with it playing when I'm sad and went on road trips playing it and singing loudly with it. Yeah, i'd say over 500 times by now. I hope to live many more years and hear it thousands of times more.
First Movement: "My son, my chosen and beloved Share your wounds with your mother And because, dear son, I have always carried you in my heart, And always served you faithfully Speak to your mother, to make her happy, Although you are already leaving me, my cherished hope". (Lamentation from the collection of medieval passion poems from Benedictine Monastery of St. Cross on Łysa Góra, Poland. Second half of the 15th century. Author unknown). Second Movement: "No, mother, do not weep. Most chaste Queen of Heaven Support me always. Hail Mary, full of grace". (Prayer inscribed on the wall of cell no. 3 in the basement of "Palace" - the Gestapo's headquarters in Zakopane, Poland; Beneath was the signature: Helena Wanda Błażusiakówna, 18 years old, imprisoned since 26 September 1944"). [Helena Błażusiak survived torture without betraying her comrades and then she managed to escape from deportation train to nazi concentration camp. She died in 1999]. Third Movement: "Where has he gone My dearest son? Perhaps during the uprising The cruel enemy killed him Ah, you bad people In the name of God, the most Holy, Tell me, why did you kill My son? Never again Will I have his support Even if I cry My old eyes out Were my bitter tears to create another River Oder They would not restore to life My son He lies in his grave and I know not where Though I keep asking people Everywhere Perhaps the poor child Lies in a rough ditch and instead he could have been lying in his warm bed Oh, sing for him God's little song-birds Since his mother Cannot find him And you, God's little flowers May you blossom all around So that my son May sleep happily". (The folk song from the period of the Silesian Uprisings of 1919-1921).
Część I: "Synku miły i wybrany Rozdziel z Matką swoje rany; A wszakom Cię, Synku miły W swem sercu nosiła A takież Tobie wiernie służyła, Przemów k Matce Bych się ucieszyła, Bo już jidziesz ode mnie Moja Nadziejo miła". (fragment "Lamentu świętokrzyskiego" z opactwa benedyktyńskiego na Świętym Krzyżu. Lata 70-te XV w. Autor nieznany). Część II: "Mamo, nie płacz, nie... Niebios Przeczysta Królowo, Ty zawsze wspieraj mnie. Zdrowaś Mario, Łaskiś Pełna". (modlitwa wyryta przez młodą łączniczkę ZWZ-AK w celi katowni gestapo. Poniżej modlitwy znajdowała się inskrypcja: Zakopane Palace, cela nr 3, ściana nr 3. Błażusiakówna Helena Wanda, lat 18, siedzi od 25 września 44"). [Helena Błażusiak nikogo nie zdradziwszy przeżyła tortury, a także udało się jej zbiec z transportu do obozu. Zmarła w 1999 r.]. Część III: "Kajze mi sie podzioł moj synocek miły? Pewnie go w powstaniu złe wrogi zabiły. Wy niedobrzy ludzie, dla Boga świętego cemuście zabili synocka mojego? Żodnej ja podpory juz nie byde miała, choćbych moje stare ocy wypłakała. Choćby z mych łez gorzkich drugo Odra była, jesce by synocka mi nie łozywiła. Lezy on tam w grobie, a jo nie wiem kandy choć sie opytuje między ludźmi wsandy. Moze nieborocek lezy kay w dołecku, a mogłby se lygać na swoim przypiecku. Ej, ćwierkajcie mu tam, wy ptosecki boze, kiedy mamulicka znaleźć go nie moze. A ty, boze kwiecie, kwitnijze w około, niech sie synockowi choć lezy wesoło". (ludowa pieśń z czasów Powstań Śląskich 1919-1921).
Have you even heard other versions? The Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra has a stunning version of this with Zofia Kilanowicz. For me it feels the most authentic. Dawn is okay, but I don't feel the soul, the utter profound anguish of this piece in her voice.
@@maryvallettakeith6146 I hadn’t heard that recording until you suggested it. There is an ominous tamber that is in the recording you recommended, however, I can say I have listened to the Upshaw version upwards of 100 times. The note she holds at 6:30 melts me to my core. For me it’s sort of like when people cover Whitney Houston songs...no one can ever really live up to the version you love. I will firmly put your suggestion in 2nd place, though.
I have 14 different recordings (some by the same soprano like Kilanowicz and Woytowicz) - my favorites are Joanna Kozlowska and Susan Gritton. I look for what the conductors do too - it’s fascinating. Upshaw was my first but not a favorite, also didn’t enjoy Yvonne Kenny. Bayrakdarian is in the middle for me, she really soars on the second movement but seems to struggle a bit on the first. Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance does a very unique take given she’s a contralto. I was lucky enough to see it performed live in Naperville IL just before pandemic, absolutely breathtaking.
