Quiz #16: Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Champion Is….
Daniel J Liss, who wrote in with Bzicem Kunia from Pieśni kurpiowskie by Karol Szymanowski. For those readers not up on the Kurpian dialect, that’s Whip The Horse from the Kurpie Songs. Whatever your language preferences, the songs were written in 1928–9.
Many of you wrote in confounded by the piece’s provenance but loving the music. Since the quiz was so difficult this week, it seems only fair to mention that the other people who guess correctly were Roger Miller and Philip Amos. Here’s where you can get a copy of the recording. The choir is Camerata Silesia, conducted by Anna Szostak.
Reader William Hughes, who chose this week’s mystery piece as the prize for winning Quiz #14, studied Szymanowski for his PhD and says of the Kurpian Songs, “[They are] a good example of Szymanowski composing in a more light-hearted vein, from a work which deserves to be more better known.” A sentiment with which Miss Mussel is sure we are all in agreeance.
Note to Daniel: Aside from the satisfaction of being the Grand Master of Quiz #16, you have won a gift certificate from Arkiv Music.
