The Ballad of the Golden Squadron – Songs of the January Uprising | Concert

About

In partnership with Stowarzyszenie Muzyka Dawna in Jarosław (Early Music Association), we are delighted to invite you to a concert by C.K. Kapela, which promises to reveal a unique and largely unknown repertoire of songs from the January Uprising. These songs have been passed down through the traditions of Podkarpacie, an area which was once part of the region known as Eastern Galicia.

The collection was discovered by Bartosz Gałązka, an expert in traditional singing. It consists of numerous songs, predominantly military in theme, with a strong connection to the January Uprising in terms of both their origin and purpose.

The lyrics cover a range of topics related to the history of the Uprising, from political narratives like calls for unity among the nations of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the conflict between the Reds and the Whites. They also delve into the personal tales of hope for independence, joy over battle victories, sorrow over the death of comrades and, ultimately, the collapse of the uprising.

These are not typical patriotic songs. Musically, the material is diverse, containing interesting variations of old dances such as polkas or mazurkas, as well as religious songs, including ballads and carols (the uprising broke out during the Christmas period).

The title “Ballad of the Golden Squadron” refers to Leon Czechowski, the squadron commander buried at the old cemetery in Jarosław. His unit originated from this area and fought in the uprising. This unit was notably called “The Golden Squadron”. The title reflects the theme of the songs, which together form a lyrical, narrative story about the fate of the insurgents from these areas. It also touches upon the end of the Romantic period coinciding with the conclusion of the uprising.

About the band

C.K. Kapela draws inspiration from the time when Lviv, Przemyśl, and Jarosław from where the musicians originate  were garrison towns under the Habsburg monarchy. The band members have built their repertoire using field research by Bartosz Gałązka and archival sources such as recordings, songbooks from the era, and ephemeral literature.By combining music, song and narrative, they construct a vivid image of the daily lives of soldiers from the turn of the century through to the end of the Great War.

The band will perform with the following lineup:

Anna Iwan – bass, vocals

Paweł Iwan – dulcimer, vocals

Dorota Kaplita – drum, vocals

Piotr Kaplita – vocals, narrative

Natalia Wawrzkiewicz – first violin, vocals

Piotr Wawrzkiewicz – second violin, hurdy-gurdy, lute guitar, vocals

This project has been co-funded by the “Niepodległa” Office under the Grant Programme “January Uprising 1863–1864”.

Details

When: 16 March, 17.00
Where: Workshops of Culture in Lublin, Grodzka 5a- auditorium
Admission free

Accessibility

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