Born on 7 February 1877 in Wartembork (now Barczewo in Warmia), he died on 18 January 1946 in Poznań. In 1887-93 he attended the Music School in Święta Lipka, where he learned harmony and how to play the piano, violin, cello, French horn and organ. In 1893, he moved with his family to Olsztyn – here he played in the orchestra of a grenadier regiment. In 1898, he was awarded 1st prize by The British Musician’s Association at a composition competition in London for his piece Pod Sztandarem Pokoju [Under the Banner of Peace]. In the same year he went to the Stern Conservatory in Berlin to study for six months (theory, counterpoint, composition, organ and cello playing). On his return to Olsztyn, he was the organist at St James' Church from 1898 to 1900. In 1900, he took a three-month course in Regensburg, where he studied Gregorian chant and polyphony at the music school.
In the same year he was admitted to the Meisterschule Königliche Akademie der Künste in Berlin, where he studied composition under Max Bruch until 1902. At the same time, he studied musicology and aesthetics at the Friedrich Wilhelm Universität. In 1902, he received the Giacomo Meyerbeer Prize – Prix de Rome for his oratorio Return of the Prodigal Son and Romantic Overture. He used the funds he received for a two-year artistic journey through Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Africa, France and Belgium, during which he met with Antonin Dvořák, Gustav Mahler, Camille Saint-Saëns, Pietro Mascagni, Ruggero Leoncavallo. As late as 1903, he was awarded the Ludwig van Beethoven Prize in Bonn (founded by Ignacy Jan Paderewski) for his overture Swaty Polskie [Polish Matchmakings], and in 1904 he received the Meyerbeer Prize for a second time – for his Symphony in A minor (later withdrawn) and for his Symphony in B minor no. 1. Also in 1904, he returned to Max Bruch, with whom he continued his studies until 1906.
After leaving school he was very active as a composer and virtuoso. In 1907, he received the 1st prize at the composer’s competition in Lviv for his composition Żałobny Pochód Kościuszki na Wawel [Kościuszko’s Funeral March to Wawel]. In 1909, he returned to Poland and settled in Kraków. Here he was the artistic director of the Music Society, and performed as a conductor at symphonic concerts and as an organist. In 1910, at a composer’s competition in Lviv, organised on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Fryderyk Chopin’s birth, he was awarded the prize for the solo song Zagasły Już [Already Extinguished[. In 1911, he married Elżbieta Mironow-Mirocka, with whom he had five children. In 1914, he was awarded first prize at the competition of the Lviv Echo for his choral piece Danae.
After the outbreak of World War I, throughout its duration, Feliks Nowowiejski took refuge from the front in the Berlin orchestra. After the war he settled in Poznań and actively joined the city’s reviving cultural life – he organised symphonic and choral concerts, gave organ recitals (he performed Baroque music, works by contemporary French composers and his own improvisations). From 1920 he taught at the State Conservatory in Poznań, where he led the organ class and conducted the orchestra. In 1927 he resigned from teaching and devoted himself entirely to composition and concert activity. In 1931, he became an honorary member of The Organ Music Society in London. In 1935 a group of Warsaw musicians awarded him the State Music Prize. In 1935-39 he led the Municipal Symphony Orchestra in Poznań, promoting contemporary music (by Maurice Ravel, Albert Roussel, Florent Schmitt, Igor Stravinsky, Tadeusz Zygfryd Kassern, Tadeusz Szeligowski). In September 1939, fearing arrest, he hid in the hospital of the Sisters of St. Elizabeth, then left for Kraków, and returned to Poznań in August 1945. He died here and was buried on the Poznań Rock, in the Crypt of Merit of the Church of St. Adalbert.
Major compositions:
(The repeated opus numbers occurring in this list are due to the practice of the composer himself, who gave different works the same opus designations. It also happened that the same work was given a different opus number when it was re-edited. The situation was complicated by the turmoil of the two world wars, during which many of Feliks Nowowiejski’s manuscripts were lost).
- Mazurka op. 1 no. 6 for solo harp
- Krakowiak op. 1 no. 7 for solo harp
- Easy Dances for Children op. 2 no. 3 for piano
- Romantic Overture op. 3
- The Return of the Prodigal Son op. 3, oratorio for alto, tenor, bass, mixed choir, symphony orchestra and organ
- Ballad of Gdańsk op. 4 no. 6 for mixed choir with piano or orchestra
- Christmas songbook op. 5, 15 carols for mixed choir
- Swaty Polskie op. 6, overture
- Konrad Wallenrod op. 6, overture
- From the Malbork Tower op. 6 no. 6 for mixed choir a cappella
- Polish Fantasy I op. 9 no. 1 for organ
- Introduction to the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus op. 9 no. 8 for organ
- Introduction to the sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes op. 9 no. 9 for organ
- Symphony in B minor no. 1 op. 12
- Quo Vadis op. 13, oratorio for soprano, baritone, bass, mixed choir, symphony orchestra and organ
- Finding of the Holy Cross op. 14, oratorio for alto, baritone, mixed choir, symphony orchestra and organ
- Come Dream op. 15 for male a cappella choir
- Wave op. 15 no. 1 for male choir a cappella
- O, Don't Talk About Me op. 15 no. 1 for male choir a cappella
- There in My Country op. 15 no. 5 for male choir a cappella
- In the Artus Court op. 15 no. 11 for male choir a cappella
- The Curse op. 16 for voice with piano
- My Caress op. 16 for voice with piano
- Polish Lullaby op. 16 for voice with piano
- Faded Away op. 16 no. 1 for voice with piano
- Which Way Jasiu op. 16 no. 2 for soprano or tenor and orchestra
- Kujawiak, Remember, Janek op. 16 no. 2 for soprano or tenor and orchestra
- Czarne Oczki [Little Black Eyes] op. 16 no. 2 for soprano or tenor and orchestra
- Four Polish Songs op. 16 no. 2 for voice with piano
- All Souls' Day (Melancholy) op. 16 no. 3 for voice with piano
- Song of the Matchmaker from Balladyna op. 16 no. 4 for voice with piano
- I Understand Waves of Speech op. 16 no. 5 for voice with piano
- When I Was Walking Among the Valleys op. 16 no. 6 for voice with piano
- Apple Pie op. 16 no. 8 for soprano and orchestra
- Osypała Jabłoneczka op. 16 no. 8 for voice with piano
- Eros and the Bee (Anacreontics) op. 16 no. 9 for voice with piano
- Beatrice op. 17 no. 1, symphonic poem based on Dante's Divine Comedy
- Nina and Pergolesi op. 17 no. 2, symphonic fantasia on the theme of the song Tre Giorni by G. B. Pergolesi
- Farewell to Ellenai op. 17 no. 3, symphonic poem according to Juliusz Słowacki for solo clarinet and augmented string quintet
- Na Kujawach Rżną Skrzypice (Kujawiak) op. 18 for mixed choir with piano or orchestra
- Vesper Bells op. 18 no. 2, ballad for mixed choir with piano or organ
- Peter Skarga op. 18 no. 3 for male choir with orchestra and organ
- Motet Ave mundi spes Maria op. 18 no. 5 for male choir a cappella
- Motet Ave Maria op. 18 no. 6 for mixed choir a cappella
- Two madrigals op. 19 for mixed choir a cappella
- Improvisation op. 19 no. 1 for trombone and piano
- Ballade op. 20 no. 1 for piano
- Four Ballades op. 20 no. 2 for piano
- Threnodies op. 20 no. 3 for piano
- Threnodies op. 20 no. 3 for cello, harp and organ
- Five Mazurkas op. 20 no. 5 for piano
- Album Card op. 20 no. 7 for piano
- Ten Carols op. 21 for voice with piano
- Varmia Folk Songs op. 21 no. 2, 5 songs for mixed choir
- Twenty Carols op. 21 no. 4 for voice with piano
- Five Songs from the Silesian Podbeskidzie Region op. 21 no. 7 for voice with piano
- In the Field of the Garden op. 21 no. 8 for soprano or tenor and orchestra
- Twenty-five Polish Songs from Warmia op. 21 no. 8 for voice with piano
- Sobótka in Czarny Las op. 23 no. 3 for mixed choir a cappella
- Do Ojczyzny [To the Homeland] op. 24 no. 1 for mixed choir a cappella
- My Nightingale op. 24 no. 2 for mixed choir a cappella
- Na Gody op. 24 no. 3 for mixed choir a cappella
- Na Gody op. 24 no. 3 for women's choir a cappella
- Mazur op. 24 no. 3 for mixed choir a cappella has sounded
- Legend op. 25 (version I) for violin and symphony orchestra
- Legend op. 25 (version II) for violin and piano
- Vision op. 25 for violin and piano
- St John’s Dance op. 25 for violin and small orchestra
- Kościuszko's Funeral Procession to Wawel op. 25 no. 2 for male a cappella choir
- Polish Mass for God the Parent op. 25 no. 5 for soprano, choir and orchestra
- Oberek, The Valley is Here op. 26 no. 4 for soprano or tenor and orchestra
- White House op. 26 no. 7 for voice with piano
- Eternity in Two Voices op. 26 no. 8 for voice with piano
- Leaves of Autumn op. 26 no. 11 for voice with piano
- Śpiewam Wiośnie [I Sing to the Spring] op. 27 no. 3 for voice with piano
- My Mother Ordered Me op. 27 no. 4 for soprano or tenor and orchestra
- Hey Sailor, op. 28 for soprano or tenor and orchestra
- Legend of the Baltic op. 28, overture
- Legend of the Baltic op. 28, opera
- Fantasia op. 28 for cello and piano
- Holy Fire op. 29 for male choir a cappella
- Danae op. 29 no. 3 for male choir a cappella
- Psalm 43 op. 29 no. 3 for women's choir a cappella
- Threnody VI op. 29 no. 4 for male choir a cappella
- Epitafium (To the Death of Jan Gall) op. 29 no. 5 for male choir a cappella
- Jeremiah op. 29 no. 7 for male choir a cappella
- Bitwa pod Racławicami [The Battle of Racławice] op. 29 no. 8 for male a cappella choir
- Rhapsody op. 29 no. 9 for male choir a cappella
- Tale op. 29 no. 10 for women's choir a cappella
- Marathon op. 29 no. 12 for male choir a cappella
- Folk Paintings op. 30, opera-ballet
- Polish Fantasy II. Christmas in St. Mary's Church op. 31 no. 3 for organ
- Polish Fantasy III. Christmas in Poland op. 31 no. 4 for organ
- Grajek – Variations on a Folk Theme op. 32 for coloratura soprano and symphony orchestra
- On Stubble op. 33 no. 1 for mixed choir a cappella
- Idzikowski’s Flight op. 33 no. 3 for mixed choir a cappella
- Homage to Gdańsk op. 33 no. 4 for male choir a cappella
- Psalm 136 (Jerusalem-Origin) op. 36 for mixed choir, symphony orchestra, winds or organ
- King of the Whirlwinds (Tatras) op. 37, opera-ballet
- United Poland Songbook op. 38, songs for mixed choir
- Górnośląskie Songbook op. 39, songs for mixed choir
- New Polish Songbook op. 40, songs for mixed choir
- Sobótka in Czarny Las op. 40 for voice with piano
- White Eagle’s Songbook op. 41, 30 songs for mixed choir
- Sea Songbook op. 42, 34 songs for mixed choir
- Organ Symphony no. 1 in A minor, op. 45
- Organ Symphony no. 2 in G minor, op. 45
- Organ Symphony no. 3 in A minor, op. 45
- Organ Symphony no. 4 in D minor, op. 45
- Organ Symphony no. 5 in E minor, op. 45
- Organ Symphony no. 6 in A minor, op. 45
- Organ Symphony no. 7 in A major op. 45
- Organ Symphony no. 8 in C major op. 45
- Organ Symphony no. 9 in F major, op. 45
- Obieżysasy op. 46, opera, lyrics by Arno Herolaska
- Ondraszek op. 47, opera, word by Gustaw Morcinek
- Kaszuby op. 47, opera, folk lyrics
- Valleys op. 47 for soprano or tenor and orchestra
- Shepherdess op. 47 no. 4 for soprano or tenor and orchestra
- Leave, Jaś op. 47 no. 6 for soprano or tenor and orchestra
- Testament of Bolesław Chrobry op. 48 for tenor solo, mixed choir with piano
- Cantata on Youth and Work (Silesian) op. 48 no. 3 for solo baritone, male choir with piano or orchestra
- Missa Mariae Claromontanae op. 49 no. 1 for mixed choir a cappella
- Missa de Lisieux op. 49 no. 2 for male choir and organ
- Missa pro pace op. 49 no. 3 for male choir and organ
- Missa Stella Maris op. 49 no. 4 for choir and organ
- Suite from Wielkopolska op. 50 for solo soprano, male chorus and orchestra
- Six Songs op. 50 for voice with piano
- Barcarolle op. 50 no. 3 for women's choir with piano
- Violet is a Nightingale op. 51 for voice with piano
- Mystery Flute op. 51 for voice with piano
- Roses for Safo op. 51 no. 1 (1st version) for soprano and symphony orchestra
- Roses for Safo op. 51 no. 1 (version II) for soprano and piano
- Erotica op. 51 no. 2 for voice with piano
- In Love op. 51 no. 3 for voice with piano
- Spring (Remember how it was) op. 51 no. 4 for voice with piano
- Nights op. 51 no. 5, three nocturnes for voice with piano
- Evening, op. 51 no. 6 for voice with piano
- Under the Skies of Persia op. 51 no. 7 for voice with piano
- Girl and Autumn op. 51 no. 8 for voice with piano
- Sighing, op. 51 no. 10 for voice with piano
- Symphony no. 2 'Rhythm and Work' op. 52
- Symphony no. 3 op. 53
- Cantata on a Hero (General Bem's Funeral) op. 54 for solo mezzo-soprano, male choir with piano
- Annunciation op. 54 for voice with piano
- In Czerwujew op. 54 no. 1 for mixed choir a cappella
- Yea, it Shall be Sunshine and Weather op. 54 no. 2 for mixed choir a cappella
- Lullaby op. 54 no. 3 for mixed choir with piano
- Lullaby op. 54 no. 3 for women's choir with piano
- Oberek op. 54 no. 4 for mixed choir a cappella
- Concerto for cello and symphony orchestra op. 55
- Teka Białowieska op. 56 for mixed choir a cappella
- Organ Concerto no. 1 op. 56
- Organ Concerto no. 2 op. 56
- Organ Concerto no. 3 op. 56
- Organ Concerto no. 4 op. 56
- Two Preludes op. 57 for piano
- Slavonic Pictures op. 57 no. 3 for piano
- Symphony of Peace no. 4 op. 58 for 3 solo voices, reciter, mixed choir and orchestra
- Under the spell of the stars op. 59 for voice with piano
- Lullaby op. 59 no. 1 for soprano and orchestra
- Lullaby op. 59 no. 1 for voice with piano
- The Moon Silvers the Birches op. 59 no. 2 for voice with piano
- Music of My Soul op. 59 no. 3 for voice with piano
- Concerto for piano and symphony orchestra 'Slavonic' op. 60
- Elegies op. 61 Nos. 1-7 for organ
Compiled by Polish Music Information Centre, Polish Composers' Union, May 2004, translated to English by PG, November 2022