Abstract

Feliks Nowowiejski, the author of the music to the one of Polish national songs „Rota” (“The oath”) was born on 7th February 1877 in Barczewo, in the region of Warmia. He was raised in a very religious and patriotic Polish family. At that time, Warmia belonged to Prussia, where Poles were subjected to the very intensive germanization policy. That is why Polish language could be used only at Nowowiejski’s home, while outside of home only German was allowed. This resulted in his being much more fluent in German then in Polish – in the following years it was the reason for accusing him of favouring the Germans.
His musical skills and interests had been discovered already in his youth. He attended Seminarium Musicum – Monastery School in Święta Lipka. He was awarded first prize at “The British Musician” contest in London in 1898 for the march “Pod sztandarem pokoju” (Under the Banner of Piece). In the same year he started music studies in Berlin. In 1902, he received a Meyerbeer Prize for an Oratory “The Return of the Prodigal Son”. This Prize initiated artistic tours to Germany, Italy, France and Belgium. This stay in the foreign countries evoked his national consciousness and Polish identity. He started to propagate Polish music and compose his own patriotic songs.
Since composing two oratories “Quo vadis” (1903, based on the Henryk Sienkiewicz’s novel with the same title) and “Finding of the Holy Cross” Nowowiejski was known in Europe and Americas. In 1909 he was appointed to the post of the Music Director of the Musical Society in Krakow. In 1910, Nowowiejski composed the music to “Rota”, the poem written by Maria Konopnicka. The song was created on the occasion of unveiling the Grunwald Monument, during the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald.
In 1911 he married Elżbieta Mironow – Mirocka, who gave him five children. In 1914 he left for Berlin once again, where he worked as a composition professor in the “Conservatory”. This job was interrupted by the World War I. As a Prussian citizen he was called up by the army. After the war he gave numerous concerts, where he included Polish national songs and patriotic compositions. Because of this he was not allowed to enter Music Academy in Berlin.
In 1919 he came back to Warmia, where he took part in the national plebiscites in Warmia and Masuria. He gave a concert in support of the Committee, which fought for joining those regions with the Polish state. Among participants of the concert were Papal Nuncio Achilles Ratti (who later became Pope Pius XI) and Ignacy Jan Paderewski.
After the plebiscite, which was unfavourable for the Polish state, Nowowiejski emigrated to Poznań, where he acquired a post in the State Music Academy and School, where he worked until 1927. In Poznań he composed numerous works of patriotic music, among other things: “Hymn Powstańców Śląskich” (Anthem of Silesian Insurgents), “Hymn do Polaków za granicą” (Anthem to Poles abroad), “Marsylianka Wielkopolska” (Wielkopolska’s Marseillaise). A famous opera “Legenda Bałtyku” (The Legend of Baltic Sea) was also written in Poznań. In 1936 he received an Award of Honour from the Union of Polish Choirs and Instrumental Groups for strengthening of musical culture in Poland.
Religious music played a special role in Nowowiejski’s life – in all stages of his career he composed religious or even liturgical works. He was a profound believer and a practising catholic. In recognition of his work in this field, he was named a Papal Chamberlain by Pope Pius XI. In 1936 he was also decorated with Polish Order of Polonia Restituta Commander's Cross.
After the outbreak of the World War II, he was arrested by gestapo. He was released after interrogation but for fear of persecution he remained hidden. Finally he left for Krakow, where he continued his work in spite of living under difficult conditions. Unfortunately, in December 1941, cerebral haemorrhage precluded his further work.
After the war, Nowowiejski returned to Poznań, where he died on 18th January 1946.
His friend, Cardinal August Hlond SDB, bid him a last farewell in Poznań Parish Church. His body was laid to rest in Poznań’s “Skałka”.