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The Catholic Church in Poland has supported boy choirs as was the case in western Europe. I have no information, however, about the tradition of boy choirs in Poland. One source reports that to make up for the education that was given in the choir schools, the national Conservatory was founded; its primary purpose was to train instrumentalists for military music as well as singers for light opera which was, at that time, very much in demand--and often performed by poorly paid children. Modern Poland did not exist until after World War I. The countries which had divided Poland (Austria, Germany/Prussia, and Russia adopt various policies toward Poland, but gradually the trend of policies was to destroy Polish national identity. We have only limited information on choirs during this period. Cultural institutionds were permitted to vary degrees and one such intitution was boy choirs oganized by the Church. The popularity of these choirs was well estanlished by the time Poland became independent. After World War II, the prestigious Poznan Nigtengales survived the Stalinist atheism campaign and becae a revered national institution.
One source reports that to make up for the education that was given in the choir schools, the national Conservatory was founded; its primary purpose was to train instrumentalists for military music as well as singers for light opera which was, at that time, very much in demand--and often performed by poorly paid children.
Modern Poland did not exist until after World War I. The countries which had divided Poland (Austria, Germany/Prussia, and Russia adopted various policies toward Poland, but gradually the trend of policies was to destroy Polish national identity. We have only limited information on choirs during this period.
A Polish reader writes, "I can tell you about Poznań. Poznań before First World War was a part of the German Empire. Polish people in Germany in this period had almost the same rights as Germans. They could establish companies, newspapers and associacions, even political parties. But they couldn't use the Polish language in state schools, even during breaks between lessons. Because of this they established many cultural associacions, including choirs.
After the the First World War, Poland achieved its independence. The new Polish Republic included areas from the former Russian, German, and Polish Empires. The political situation thus changed, but the tradition of singing in choirs was very strong. The most professional was cathedral boys choir in Poland was conducted by father Gieburowski in Poznan.
The Germans and Soviets invaded Poland (1939), launching World War II. A young musician Stuligrosz who was a Poznam chorister took over the Poznan Choir in 1939. During the NAZI occupation in Poznań only, a few catholic churches priests could use the Polish language. In one of this churches Stuligrosz with his choir sang during the mass every Sunday.
The Poznan Cathedral was partly destroyd during World ar II. Stuligrosz was very tallented and ambicious young man then he affiliated his choir to Poznan Philharmony. But he always was religious. His choir during the 1950s sang religious songs. In this period it was a bit dangerous to have any religious connectins. This was the Stalinist era and the Communist Government launched upon a major athesism effort.
Conductors prsenting religious music could lose his job. But Stuligrosz year after year had higher position as musician and he was not fired. In the 1960s his choir was allowed to go on international tours. The Choir even sang in the White House invited by President Kennedy. The trip caused a sensation in Poland because Kennedy was wery popular. (He was a catholic and anticomunist.) After that Stuligrosz had a very special position in Poland like a Queen in England. In 1945 in Poznań was established the second boys choir by Jerzy Kurczewski. First it was a group of singing Scouts. But Kurczewski was tallented and ambicious too. And he more supported new political system. Then he got a great support of local authorities. For example educational authorities established special school for his choir. During a few years it was even a boarding school. Between the two Nightingales choirs there was a silent cold war from 1945 to 1989. Poznań Nightingales were a bit opposition group. They often sang in churches. But every year both choirs participated in the May Day celebratins orgnized by the Government. Stuligrosz was in opposition but it was a half opposition only. After 1989 silent war between choirs changed to warm war. Old men: Kurczewski and Stuligrosz in newspapers discused about the past using sometimes a bit agressive words. When Polish Nightingales organised Boys Choirs Festival Poznan Nightingales boycoted this festival. Now is the end. Kurczewski died, and his assistant and next director of choir led this institution to collapse.
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