Music and Texts of GARY BACHLUND
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On "Krakowiaczek jeden" - (2018)
for piano
The anonymous melody was collected in 1892 by Polish historian and ethnographer Zygmunt Gloger (1845-1910). The lyrics tell of a man from Cracow, opening with "I'm a man from Cracow, / I had seven horses, / I lost all but one, / Fighting foreign forces." Later strophes describe the tassels and buckle for a traditional costume which is sometimes worn in dance versions of the tune. Children's versions abound as well. This essay on the theme for piano moves through the dance melody in duple and then a 6/8 variation traces the melodic shape before a return and final cadence.
5 pages, circa 5' 30" - an MP3 demo is here:
The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano score.
