Poland - Mazowsze Dances 1998

Mazowsze (in Polish "Państwowy Zespół Ludowy Pieśni i Tańca "Mazowsze"" - "State Folk Group of Song and Dance 'Mazowsze'") is a famous Polish folk group. It is named after the Mazowsze region of Poland.

History:

"Mazowsze" was established by a decree issued by the Ministry of Culture and Art on 8 November 1948. The decree ordered Professor Tadeusz Sygietyński to create a folk group that would maintain regional artistic traditions and the traditional folk repertoire of songs and dances of the Masovian countryside. The group was intended to protect this folk tradition from destruction and encapsulate its diversity, beauty and richness. At the beginning Mazowsze's repertoire contained songs and dances from only a few regions of Poland – Opoczno and Kurpie, but it soon extended its range by adopting the traditions of other regions.

After two years of preparing, rehearsing and studying its repertoire, Mazowsze staged its premiere in the Polish Theatre in Warsaw on 6 November 1950. The repertoire contained songs as well as danced from the regions of Central Poland (as mentioned above) – Opoczno, Kurpie and Masovia.

In between the concerts after the premiere in Warsaw Mazowsze continued to enhance the programme, planned next undertakings and made important decisions. Only year after, in 1951, Mazowsze started touring outside Poland. The first country they visited was The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, understandable in those days due to Poland's geopolitical situation. Three years later the Polish government allowed Mazowsze to venture outside the “Iron curtain”. On 1 October 1954 there was a concert in Paris, and six years later in the USA.

After the death of Prof. Tadeusz Sygietyński, the group’s leader became Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska, who was working beside her husband from the very beginning of Mazowsze. They both researched the countryside, Ziemińska looking for old traditional garments, Sygietynski hoping to find young talents. She also made Mazowsze as it is till now. Had it not been for her, it would not be possible to find new areas of research like 39 more ethnographic regions or description of religious and patriotic songs which were never written down. Because of her Mazowsze gained popularity all over the world, gave around 6 thousand concerts as well in Poland as in 49 countries. Mira tried to collect also material treasures of Polish folklore – costumes which were reconstructed with great care.

Mira Ziemińska-Sygietyńska was the group's leader for over 40 years, devoting her talent, experience and life to the project completely.

In the fifties, Mazowsze gave the opportunity to sing to such great Polish singers as Irena Santor or Lidia Korsakówna.

Film Appearances:

In 1963 Mazowsze appeared in the Polish comedy movie Żona dla Australijczyka (Wife for Australian man), about an Australian of Polish descent who returns to Poland to find a wife. The role of the soloist of Mazowsze was played by the famous Polish actress Elżbieta Czyżewska, and the role of the Australian man – Wiesław Gołas. In 1999 Mazowsze also appeared in Andrzej Wajda’s movie Pan Tadeusz, in the scene of the traditional Polish dance – the Polonaise.

Lyric:

Wyszłabym za dziada

I would marry an old man

Już mi się doprawdy panieństwo sprzykrzyło
I got really tired of my maidenhood
Wyszłabym za dziada, żeby się trafiło
I would marry an old man if he happened to me
Oj córuś,oj córuś nie wychodź za dziada
My daughter, my daughter don’t marry an old man
Ni na dzień, ni na noc, on ci się nie nada.
Neither during the day nor at night he will be of use
Matulu dajże mi Jasieńka mojego
Mother, give me my Johnny
Kocha mnie, młody jest. I ja kocham jego
he loves me and he is young. And I love him
Jeść mu ugotuję. Buzie ucałuję.
I will cook food for him, I will kiss his face
Pościelę łóżeczko jak pieścidełeczko
I will make his bed with affection
Myślisz ty córusiu że za chłopem dobrze
Daughter, you think that with a man life is good
Za chłopem trza robić aż się skóra podrze.
With a man one has to work very hard till the skin tears.
Matulu, matulu co wy powiadacie
Mother mother what are you saying
wyśta chłopa mieli całą skórę macie….”
You have had a man and you have all the skin

Dwa serduszka
Two hearts

Dwa serduszka cztery oczy ojo joj!
Two hearts four eyes
Co płakały we dnie nocy ojo joj!
That were crying by day and at night
Czarne oczka co płaczecie
Black eyes that are crying
Że się spotkać nie możecie
That you can’t meet
Że się spotkać nie możecie
That you can’t meet
Oj jo joj!

Dziwna zazdrość starych ludzi ojo joj!
A strange jealousy of old people
Wiek zgrzybiały to ich nudzi ojo joj!
At advanced age that bores them
Sami o miłość nie dbają
They themselves don’t care about love
Młodym kochać zabraniają
They forbid young people to love
Młodym kochać zabraniają
They forbid young people to love
Oj jo joj!

Mnie matula zakazała ojo joj!
My mother forbade me
Żebym chłopca nie kochała ojo joj!
to love the boy
Kamienną bym być musiała
I would have to be of stone
Żebym chłopca nie kochała
not to love the boy
Żebym chłopca nie kochała
not to love the boy
Oj jo joj!

Kiedy chłopak hoży miły ojo joj!
When the boy is robust and nice
I któż by miał tyle siły ojo joj!
And who would have so much strength
Kamienne by serce było
The heart would be of stone
Żeby chłopca nie lubiło
Not to like the boy
Żeby chłopca nie lubiło
Not to like the boy
Oj jo joj!

Mnie matula zakazała ojo joj!
My mother forbade me
żebym chłopca nie kochała ojo joj!
to love the boy
A ja chłopca chaps! za szyje
And I snapped at the boy’s neck
Będę kochać póki żyje
I will love till I die
Będę kochać póki żyję
I will love till I die
oj jo joj!