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Carol Shortis  

Polskie Kwiaty

 Year: 2009
for SATB quartet and accordion

Carol Shortis  

Tesknota

Duration: 08' 00" Year: 2009
for eight-voice vocal ensemble, string quintet, piano, soprano solo and countertenor solo

  • Programme Note

    This piece was written for the 65th anniversary of the arrival in New Zealand of Polish refugee children in 1944. Most of them were children who had been separated from, or who had lost their parents and other family members. As part of my research for the piece, I transcribed an interview that my colleague Anton Killin had recorded with one of these refugees. His story is one of loss, struggle, enforced migration and international betrayal of the Polish community, yet his perseverance, faith common sense and strength eventually won through and he continues to live in New Zealand whilst being proud of his Polish heritage. Tesknota is my reflection and response to his moving story and quotes from the traditional Polish fold song Polskie Kwiaty and 13th-century hymn Bogurodzica representing “old Poland” before the Russian and German invasions of 1939.

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