Stanisław Moniuszko / Stanislaw Moniuszko

Having studied with Rungenhagen in Berlin, Moniuszko returned to Poland where he became the organist at St John's in Vilnius. He gave piano lessons and conducted the theatre's orchestra as well. Developing a dramatic interest, driven by literary contacts, Moniuszko began composing operas. "Halka" was first performed in Vilnius in 1848 followed by a performance in Warsaw in 1857. These compositions marked a tendency toward Polish nationalism and Moniuszko was at the front of this movement. By 1859 he was the conductor for the Grand Theatre in Warsaw and in 1864 he began teaching music at the Institute. Characteristics of the story-lines in his opera included victims who were members of the common people, and, representations of the Polish nobility. The operas themselves relied heavily upon the chorus and Polish dance rhythms, particularly the mazurka. "Songbooks for Home," containing two hundred and sixty seven songs with piano accompaniment, were important for their free use of rhythms and context of Polish identity which was not easily achieved in a "stateless" society. Moniuszko's songs were simple, strophic, rhythmic and inventive.