Szymanowski's co-operation and, later on, friendship with Tadeusz Miciński, poet, playwright, novelist and essayist, leading representative of Polish expressionism and forerunner of surrealism, continued for a number of years and produced such superb works as the Third Symphony 'Song of the Night' (nb. Miciński was the first Polish translator of the poem by the Persian Jalaluddin Rumi). Prior to that, in 1904-05, Szymanowski had set Miciński's poem The Corsar (from the volume W mroku gwiazd) as Four songs Op. 11, dedicating them to the poet.
The music of the Songs follows the lyrics, expressing loneliness, powerlessness, sadness (the first song Tak jestem smętny / I am so sad), anxiety and confusion (the second song W zaczarowanym lesie / In an enchanted forest), illusion and disillusionment (the third song Nade mną leci w szafir morza... / Flying above me into the azure sea) as well as heroism and strength (the fourth song Rycz, burzo!... / Roar, o storm!). Szymanowski subtly underscores the mood through harmony (sometimes a highly dissonant one, as in the second song), rhythm (shimmering music invoking Debussy's impressionism, as in the third song), and expressive melodic themes.
Rarely recorded or performed, Songs Op. 11 nevertheless feature in the repertoires of Urszula Kryger, Alison Pearce and others. In 2004 they were taken up by Piotr Beczała, who was invited by the acclaimed pianist Reinild Mees to record a set of four CDs with Juliana Gondek, Urszula Kryger and Iwona Sobotka. Released by the Dutch label Channel Classics, it features the complete Szymanowski songs.
Author: Anna Iwanicka-Nijakowska, September 2007.