Szymanowski composed his Op. 48 in the first months of 1922, dedicating this setting of Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz poems to the pianist Helena Kahn-Caselli, the ex-wife of the Italian composer Alfredo Caselli, whom he met during his stay in Paris.
Contrary to what the title may suggest, Iwaszkiewicz's poems address the events of war and revolution, and their murky and sad mood that brings back the memories of the recent tragedies is conveyed through music which is just as focused and ascetic in the use of measures and texture. In this regard the Trzy kołysanki / Three Lullabies are stylistically akin to the few months' older Słopiewnie, and although there are no references to the folk music of the Podhale region, the sounds are similarly condensed and restricted, yet have an enormous emotional charge and inner expression. The first song, Pochyl się cicho nad kołyską... / Lean quietly over the crib, moves the listener with a sense of sadness and emptiness achieved with single quiet sounds, whereas the second song, Śpiewam morzu, gwiazdom i tobie... / I sing to the sea, the stars and you..., produces a similar mood by atonal harmony and special rhythm with numerous syncopes and the passing by of the vocal and piano parts. The mood does not brighten up until the third lullaby, Biały krąg księżyca... / The white orb of the moon, its colour more cheerful despite the persisting subtle and lyrical melancholy adorned with Oriental turns of melody.
It was still in 1922 that the first and last of the Three Lullabies were printed in "La Revue musicale" as a score insert in the Polish and French languages. It was not until 1926, however, that Universal Edition published the entire work.
Despite their doubtless charm, Szymanowski's three song miniatures have featured in the repertoires of few top singers, among them Halina Łukomska, Bożena Betley, Claudia Barainska and Iwona Sobotka. The latter did a recording with the pianist Reinild Mees for the Dutch label Channel Classics in 2004.
Jan Krenz has made a transcription of the Three Lullabies for soprano or tenor and chamber orchestra.
Author: Anna Iwanicka-Nijakowska, September 2007.