Litany to the Virgin Mary
Two fragments op. 59 (1930–33) was the last vocal work in Karol Szymanowski’s oeuvre. Its writing marked the end of Szymanowski’s adventure with poetry, which had lasted throughout his activity as a composer. Composed to fragments of Jerzy Liebert’s poem with the same title, from the collection Gusła (1930), it was also a tribute to the young poet-who died prematurely of tuberculosis in 1931-paid by Szymanowski, who was moved by Liebert’s fate. Meeting Liebert became one of the most important spiritual experiences for the composer in the last few years of his life. What brought the two men close on the creative level was Franciscanism as striving for simplicity in art and their attitude to artistic craftsmanship, to the métier. Liebert, who experienced a fervent religious conversion and who introduced a new tone into Polish religious poetry, touched a religious chord in Szymanowski’s soul and helped him to extract more music from the reserves of his religiosity, apparently already exhausted in the opinion of the author of Stabat Mater. In doing so, he contributed to a revitalisation of the composer’s spiritual life and provoked him into carrying out an “examination of conscience”, as it were, which ultimately led to the writing of the Litany. A small masterpiece of vocal lyricism showing new perspectives in Szymanowski’s oeuvre and at the same time a prayer, like Gioacchino Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle.
