There is an ongoing dispute about the place of his birth – some historians claim that he was born in Kielce, others that he came from Kielcza, a locality on the boundaries of the Lower Silesia, near Strzelce Opolskie.
Little is known about Wincenty’s life. In 1222 he was a chaplain of the Bishop of Cracow Iwo Odrowąż, around 1235 he joined the Dominican monastery, in 1257 he served as a canon of Cracow, while in 1258 he held the position of a prior of the convent in Racibórz.
He is an author of two hagiographies of Bishop Stanisław of Szczepanów: 'Vita Minor' and 'Vita Maior'. The 'Vita Minor' served the purpose of canonisation, while 'Vita Maior', an extension of the former, was penned several years after the canonisation and underlined the significance of St Stanisław for the history of Poland.
After the canonisation of St Stanisław in 1253, a rhymed officium about St Stanisław was created – 'Dies adest celebris' (A solemn day is coming). Wincenty was the composer and author of the lyrics. The content of the first antiphons for vespers contains the history of life of St Stanisław from his childhood days, through education and offices he held, to the position of a bishop. The content of the lauds depicts the background of a dispute between St Stanisław and King Bolesław the Bold. The conflict had its epilogue in the bishop’s death, sparking glory to the deceased and presenting the history of his relics.
Wincent is also said to have been an author of several other works from that period, including the sequence about St Stanisław: 'Laeta mundus (World, rejoice!)' and 'Jesu Christe, rex superne' (Jesus Christ, King in Heavens), as well as the hymn to St Stanisław 'Gaude Mater Polonia' (Mother Poland, rejoice!). It cannot be ruled out that the 'Gaude Mater Polonia' hymn is not completely authentic, as it resembles other hymns known in medieval Europe both in terms of lyrics and melodic patterns.
Author: Małgorzata Kosińska, Polish Music Information Centre, Polish Composers’ Union, December 2006.
