Polscy poeci o Karolu Szymanowskim i jego muzyce

Abstract

This paper presents a reflection upon the image of Karol Szymanowski in works of Polish poets, based mainly on the corpus of texts collected in the anthology Wiersze o Szymanowskim (Poems about Szymanowski), including poems from 1929 to 1985, the greatest part of which constitute poetic epitaphs and commemorations. Rules applying to poetic portrayal of historical figures from the world of art are concisely laid out. In case of Szymanowski, the image of his biography and musical output expressed in poetry constitutes only a part of literary testimony that comprises mainly numerous works of various genres by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz and novels by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz and is supplemented profusely by contemporary memoirs and diaries as well as writings of musicians, musicologists and musical critics, studying Szymanowski’s art of composition.