Musical and Literary Activity of Jan Karłowicz Cover Image

Jano Karlovičiaus muzikinė ir literatūrinė veikla
Musical and Literary Activity of Jan Karłowicz

Author(s): Irena Fedorovič
Subject(s): Literary Texts
Published by: Vytauto Didžiojo Universitetas
Keywords: Polish culture of Lithuania in the second half of XIX century; Lithuanian – Polish cultural relations; Vilnius cultural life.

Summary/Abstract: Jan Karłowicz, descended from Lithuania, was well known Polish linguist, historian, ethnographer, editor, and translator. His humanities deserts are pretty well noticed in Poland, party also in Lithuania. Less recognizable is his cultural activity. His literary output consists of youth poetry, translations, correspondence published in Warsaw’s press, the same close relationships with well know writers and poets of positivism epoch (E. Orzeszkowa, M. Konopnicka, H. Sienkiewicz, A. Świętochowski). Karłowicz was the great enthusiast of Lithuanian language and literature, he corresponded with A. Baranauskas. In his private collection he had V. Ažukalnis-Zagurski’s and S. Gimžauskas poems, he tried to translate into Polish language the part of the poem Metai written by K. Donelaitis. Before his literary fondness he was interested in music. He played the piano and the cello from his youth. During his studies in Moscow he used to play with universities orchestra. He took music lessons in Paris and Brussels, started to compose first piano compositions. After coming back to Lithuania he performed together with symphony orchestra and solo in the Great Theatre and in the Noble Club in Vilnius. From 1887 he was living in Warsaw. There he was the member of Musical Society Lutnia. He was the founder of S. Moniuszko section. Karłowicz met Moniuszko still being the pupil of the Vilnius upper school, after that they were in touch, also having contact with the composer’s family. After Moniuszko death, he settled the composers output, and published his VII Śpiewnik domowy.

  • Issue Year: 15/2013
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 30-38
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Lithuanian