Andrzej Szwalbe

Andrzej Jan Szwalbe (1923-2002) was a Polish lawyer, social and cultural activist and manager of the musical life in Bydgoszcz. He was the originator and creator of numerous artistic projects outside the region.In 1993, he has been designated as Honorary Citizen of Bydgoszcz. He was awarded the highest state orders for his contribution to Polish culture.

Andrzej Szwalbe
Andrzej Szwalbe at the Filharmonia Pomorska
Born
Andrzej Jan Szwalbe

(1923-06-23)June 23, 1923
Warsaw, Second Polish Republic
DiedNovember 11, 2002(2002-11-11) (aged 79)
Bydgoszcz, Third Polish Republic
Resting placeCatholic cemetery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
53°08′27″N 17°59′55″E
NationalityPolish
OccupationLawyer, social and cultural activist
Known forFirst director of Pomeranian Philharmonic

Biography
Warsaw Conservatory, prior the Uprising
Building of the Pomeranian Philharmonic
Current seat of the Bydgoszcz Scientific Society, at 8 Jezuicka Street
BWA building with the connection to the Pomeranian Arts House on the left
Building of the Bydgoszcz Music Academy
Ostromecko old palac where is exhibited the 'Szwalbe piano collection

Pre-war period

Andrzej Szwalbe was born on June 30, 1923, in Warsaw. His mother was Eufemia née Sobieraj and his father Sylwester Jan Szwalbe. The latter worked as a tax clerk. His mother had a pivotal influence in the way Andrzej led his life: she believed that his duty was to serve his homeland in the field of high culture and thus fulfill his life as an important mission. She loved him in reading difficult books on national, social and philosophical topics.[1]

Andrzej studied in Warsaw at Mikołaj Rej Secondary school No. XI and Adam Mickiewicz Secondary school No.IV. Encouraged by his mother all the time to develop and take on self-discipline, which is why he attended,[1] among others, the music school at Chopin University of Music, where he was a piano student in the class of Prof. Paweł Lewicki. There he met later famous Polish musicians, such as Witold Lutosławski.[2]

During the occupation, while he has been completing his first year of law studies at the University of Warsaw, he also worked as a messenger. In 1944, he was arrested and imprisoned by the Germans in the internment camp 121 of Pruszków: from here he escaped to Krakow.

PRL years

After WWII, Szwalbe lived in Ciechocinek but soon he moved from there to Bydgoszcz. In 1948, he graduated from law studies at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń[3] and for three years he worked at the university on differents positions: assistant, lecturer and head of the Human resources department. However, he put more enthusiasm to become a cultural activist than to develop his career of lawyer. In 1949, he made himself known to the public by giving a spontaneous speech during a concert of the Pomeranian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (the ancestor of the Pomeranian Philharmonic) at the Bydgoszcz Chamber theatre on Grodzka Street for a petition demanding not to abandon the Orchestra.[4] With the thousands signatures he collected, Szwalbe went to the administrative authorities to make his point. This happening made him a recognizable figure in the local society.

In 1951, he was appointed administrative director of the Pomeranian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. A year later, his efforts were rewarded, as by a decision of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage on December 15, 1952, the Pomeranian Symphony Orchestra, operating since 1946, in recognition of its high level and merits in the promotion of music, was nationalized on 1 January 1953,[5] taking the name of Ignacy Jan Paderewski Pomeranian Philharmonic: Andrzej Szwalbe was designated as the head of the Social Committee for the Construction of the Philharmonic (Polish: Społeczny Komitet Budowy Filharmonii). The building was erected three years later, with an inaugural concert performed on November 16, 1956, broadcast on the Polish Radio. The architecture of the newly built edifice in Bydgoszcz, designed by Stefan Klajbor, referred to the National Philharmonic in Warsaw.[5]

In the following years, he carried out new projects with passion:

  • he co-initiated with Marian Turwid the Bydgoszcz Scientific Society (Polish: Bydgoskie Towarzystwo Naukowe) in 1959;
  • he was the initiator of the erection of the Opera Nova (opened in 2006) in the city. At the start of the works (1973), Szwalbe was for many years the direct manager of the project;
  • in 1961, he launched a publishing series at the Pomeranian Philharmonic, entitled The history of Polish music in Pomerania (Polish: Z dziejów muzyki polskiej na Pomorzu).

He initiated the establishment in Bydgoszcz of a branch of the Scientific and Research Station of the Institute of Musicology from the University of Warsaw: in coordination with both institutions and the Bydgoszcz Scientific Society, he conducted extensive scientific activity.[5]

Together with Stanisław Gałoński, a music director and musicologist from Krakow, Andrzej Szwalbe established in 1962, the Capella Bydgostiensis, one of the leading Polish chamber orchestra dedicated to Early Music. A year later, he inaugurated the Polish Music Festival, which transformed later on into the Bydgoszcz Music Festival (Polish: Bydgoski Festiwal Muzyczny). In 1966, with the help of musicologist Zofia Lissa and prof. Hieronim Feicht (then manager of the Polish music department at the University of Warsaw)[6], Szwalbe set up the international festivals and musicological congresses, Musica Antiqua Europae Orientalis (MAEO),[5] which have become today a recognized event in Europe and contributed to the increased visibility and popularity of music from Central and Eastern Europe in the world. The achievements of the scientific congresses partnering the MAEO sessions were compiled in several books (e.g. Acta Scientifica) and through the publishing series Monumenta MAEO, promoting Polish music and culture worldwide.

In 1970, thanks to his efforts, a new gallery for the Municipal Art Gallery BWA was erected at 20 Gdańska Street. He played a decisive role in opening in 1974, a Bydgoszcz branch of the Academy of Music in Łódź, which became afterwards an independent institution, the Bydgoszcz Music Academy - "Feliks Nowowiejski".[7] To house the latter, Szwalbe took control in 1975, of the historic building of the Prussian administrative region, located at the corner of Słowackiego and 20 Stycznia 1920 streets.

Taking specific care to the high artistic level of Bydgoszcz ensembles of the Philharmonic, Andrzej Szwalbe commissioned outstanding Polish composers to write dedicated works, such as the piece for baritone and orchestra, Gray Fog (Polish: Siwa Mgła) by Wojciech Kilar. He intented the Philharmonic to be a cultural melting-pot, combining music with various art disciplines. To this end, over the years, he built several collections inside the building of the Pomeranian Philharmonic, all related to music:[4]

  • a gallery of sculptural portraits of musicians;
  • a tapestry collection;
  • a unique collection of 18th and 19th centuries pianos. Nowadays, the Andrzej Szwalbe Collection is visible in nearby Ostromecko palace.

He also made his vision of a Music District in Bydgoszcz a reality by adroitly developing the area around the seat of the Philharmonic, through installing in the neighbourhood cultural and educational institutions (i.e Bydgoszcz Music Academy - "Feliks Nowowiejski", Music Schools Group, Jan Kochanowski Park). In particular, the park harbours a outdoor gallery of monuments to composers and virtuosos.

At the beginning of the 1980s, he came up with the idea of restoring the splendor and culture-centric functions to nearby palaces of Ostromecko and Lubostroń.[8] In the former, he set up a gallery of Polish contemporary paintings and graphics from Tadeusz Brzozowski. He envisionned the Palace and park ensemble in Ostromecko to fulfill the role of a Bydgoszcz Wilanów. He expanded the cultural life in Bydgoszcz with consistency, foresight and optimism. He was deeply emotionally connected with the city.[1]

Third Polish Republic

After retiring in 1991, and handing over the directoring of the Philharmonic to Eleonora Harendarska, he kept being keenly interested in cultural life, speaking on many issues, both locally and nationally. He was awarded the title of Honorary Director of the Pomeranian Philharmonic and received in 1993, the title of Honorary Citizens of Bydgoszcz.

Andrzej Szwalbe was a modest and very hardworking man, a lover of art and music.[3] He was able to successfully implement his visions and dreams in difficult times (Polish People's Republic) while overshadowing his merits, not caring about any personal benefits. He was an outstanding creator of culture in Bydgoszcz, but also a person of merit for Polish culture: Szwalbe's vision, consistency in action, mediation skills, as well as great erudition and even greater modesty were always emphasized. His closest musical friends, outstanding Polish composers (Wojciech Kilar, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Krzysztof Penderecki) talked about him as a showcase of Bydgoszcz culture.

Andrzej Szwalbe died suddenly on November 11, 2002, in Bydgoszcz, surviving only one month to his wife, Dobrosława. He was buried in the Catholic cemetery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at 2 Ludwikowo street in Bydgoszcz.

Awards and recognitions

In March 18, 1993, the City Council awarded him the title of Honorary Citizen of Bydgoszcz. It was the first Honorary Citizen title awarded since 1945.[9]

During his lifetime, Andrzej Szwalbe had two books wrote about himself: Andrzej Szwalbe – portret niedokończony (English: Andrzej Szwalbe - an unfinished portrait) by Adam Bezwiński and Życie na przełomie (English: Life at the turn) by Krystyna Starczak-Kozłowska.[1] He also had a bronze bust chiseled by artist Michał Kubiak, which is now exhibited inside the Philarmonic building. On April 19, 2007, Kubiak created a life-size statue of Szwalbe, standing today on the main square of Philarmonic.

On June 30, 2003, a commemorative plaque was unveiled on the tenement house where Andrzej Szwalbe lived at 75 Dworcowa Street. Since 2007, he is the patron of the Primary School No.67 in Bydgoszcz.[10]

A street in downtown Bydgoszcz, next to the Philharmonic Hall and the Music School ensemble was renamed in his honor.

The collection of old and historic pianos in Ostromecko Palace is now exhibited as The Andrzej Szwalbe Collection.[11]

On January 18, 2013, the Andrzej Szwalbe "Heritage" association (Polish: Stowarzyszenie im. Andrzeja Szwalbego "Dziedzictwo") has been launched. Its goal is to gather people who are close to the ideas and activities of Andrzej Szwalbe, as a "visionary in the domain of the culture and science", not only in Bydgoszcz but also in the entire region.[12]

Honors
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See also

References
  1. Gill, Magdalena (26 September 2017). "Andrzej Szwalbe wyrastał ponad przeciętność [ROZMOWA]". tygodnikbydgoski.pl. Tygodnik Bydgoski. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  2. "OSOBY Szwalbe Andrzej". archiwummuzyczne.pl. Akademia Muzyczna w Bydgoszczy Muzyczne Archiwum Pomorza i Kujaw. 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. ŻUCHLIŃSKA, MONIKA (13 November 2002). "Odszedł wizjoner". bydgoszcz.naszemiasto.pl. Polska Press Sp. z o. o. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  4. Piórek, Magdalena (2001). Jeden człowiek, a jakby instytucja. Kalendarz Bydgoski. Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłószników Miasta Bydgoszczy.
  5. "ANDRZEJ SZWALBE". filharmonia.bydgoszcz.pl. FILHARMONIA POMORSKA IM. IGNACEGO JANA PADEREWSKIEGO W BYDGOSZCZY. 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  6. Łukaszek, Ewa (1984). 35 lat Filharmonii Pomorskiej. Kalendarz Bydgoski. Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy. pp. 43–47.
  7. Łukaszek, Ewa (1982). Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Muzyczna im. Feliksa Nowowiejskiego. Kalendarz Bydgoski. Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłószników Miasta Bydgoszczy.
  8. "Ostromecko". visitbydgoszcz.pl. Bydgoskie Centrum Informacji. 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  9. Gliwiński, Eugeniusz (2007). Honorowi Obywatele Bydgoszczy. Kalendarz Bydgoski. Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy.
  10. "Szkoła Podstawowa nr 67 z Odziałami Sportowymi w Bydgoszczy im. Andrzeja Szwalbego". sp67.edu.bydgoszcz.pl. Szkoła Podstawowa nr 67. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  11. "The Andrzej Szwalbe Collection, Ostromecko". fortepian.instrumenty.edu.pl/en. Instytut Muzyki i Tańca. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  12. "Stowarzyszenie im. Andrzeja Szwalbego "Dziedzictwo"". szwalbe.byd.pl. WYŻSZA SZKOŁA GOSPODARKI. 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  13. Chancellery of the Polish President (2005). KRZYś WIELKI ORDERU ODRODZENIA POLSKI (PDF). Bydgoszcz: Chancellery of the Polish President.
  14. Chancellery of the Polish President (1996). Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 3 kwietnia 1996 r. o nadaniu orderów (PDF). Bydgoszcz: Monitor Polski N.37. pp. 362–363.

Bibliography
  • (in Polish) Piórek, Magdalena (2001). Jeden człowiek, a jakby instytucja. Kalendarz Bydgoski. Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy.
  • (in Polish) Bartnicki, Jerzy (1984). Filharmonia Pomorska. Kultura bydgoska 1945-1984 pod red. Krystyny Kwaśniewskiej. Bydgoszcz: Bydgoskie Towarzystwo Naukowe.
  • (in Polish) Pruss Zdzisław, Weber Alicja, Kuczma Rajmund (2004). Bydgoski leksykon muzyczny. Bydgoszcz: Kujawsko-Pomorskie Towarzystwo Kulturalne. pp. 573–575. ISBN 9788389734150.
  • (in Polish) Pruss Zdzisław, Weber Alicja (2002). Bydgoski leksykon operowy. Bydgoszcz: Kujawsko-Pomorskie Towarzystwo Kulturalne.

Category:1923 births Category:2002 deaths Category:People from Bydgoszcz

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