Work

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.

Text Note:

Text from sections of traditional Polish folk song "Polskie Kwiaty"

Commissioned:

Commissioned by SMP Ensemble for the reunion of Polish refugees in New Zealand

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Influences:

• Historical Event
• Language and Literature

Performance History

	01 Nov 2009	Performed by the SMP Ensemble, members of Wellington Youth Choir, Olga Gryniewicz (soprano), Laurie Fleming (countertenor) and conducted by Justus Rozemond at Wesley Church in Wellington
		Justus Rozemond
	06 Nov 2009	Performed by the SMP Ensemble, members of Wellington Youth Choir, Olga Gryniewicz (soprano), Laurie Fleming (countertenor) and conducted by Justus Rozemond at Adam Concert Room, University of Victoria, in Wellington
		Justus Rozemond
	07 Nov 2009	Performed by the SMP Ensemble, members of Wellington Youth Choir, Olga Gryniewicz (soprano), Laurie Fleming (countertenor) and conducted by Justus Rozemond at St Andrew’s on The Terrace in Wellington
		Justus Rozemond
	10 Mar 2010	Performed by the SMP Ensemble, members of Wellington Youth Choir, Olga Gryniewicz (soprano), Laurie Fleming (countertenor) and conducted by Justus Rozemond at St Andrew’s on The Terrace in Wellington
		Justus Rozemond
	06 Jul 2010	This broadcast uses a recording from the performance by the SMP Ensemble, members of Wellington Youth Choir, Olga Gryniewicz (soprano), Laurie Fleming (countertenor), conducted by Justus Rozemond, given at St Andrew’s on The Terrace, Wellington on November 7, 2009
		Justus Rozemond