| With all the rushing around preparing for Christmas, the shopping, the cleaning, the cooking, wrapping presents etc. before we know it, Christmas day has come and gone. When does one take the time to sit back in a quiet, blessed environment and actually listen and take part in the singing of our beautiful Polish Christmas carols?
It is hard to believe that for twenty seven years, Christmas has been celebrated with a magnificent concert of Carols sung by the young and not so young. I only took part in the audience, for the first time, last year and was so impressed and uplifted that I had to return this year. I was not disappointed.[/b]
On Sunday, 28th December, 2014 my husband and I attended our 2nd Carols evening. The beautiful chapel at Marayong was at its sparkling Christmas best with two festive Christmas trees around the altar and a beautiful nativity scene in front of the altar.
The carols evening commenced after the 6.30 mass as usual.
A short introduction by the organisor Bozena Szymanska welcoming everyone, then the tinkling of bells heralded the entry of carolers and a young boy carrying a star followed by additional junior members of Lajkonik dressed as gorale in traditional mountain region costumes. Commencing with the first carol ‘Wsrod nocnej ciszy’ then Bozena and Wieslaw Rogolinski together with the congregation sang ‘Gore Gwiazda’ followed by ‘Pastuszkowie bracia mili’.
A beautiful rendition of ‘Oj maluski, maluski’ sung by Victoria Hospodaryk and Gabrysia Zychowska with the congregation singing the refrain followed.
Little seven year old Julia Fenik on violin, charmed us with ‘Gdy sie Chrystus rodzi” and ‘Lulajze Jezuniu’ it was her debut performance and we look forward to her future performances.
Fifth on the program was ‘Zlota Jerozolima i biedne Betlejem’ presented to us by 10 year old Zosia Mrowka, another amazing and impressive debut performance, accompanied by her brother Bartek, and Olivia Kowalik along with her little brother, Stefan and on the violin, their father Zdzislaw.
Another very talented young performer, Amelka Gnatek joined with Gabrysia Zychowska to sing ‘Hymn o Narodzeniu’, ‘Magia Swiat’ and with an opportunity once again for the congregation to join in and sing ‘Cicha noc, Swieta noc (Silent night, Holy night).There is no doubt about the rising talent of our young performers, blessed with such beautiful and melodious voices. It is hoped that they will continue to be willing to sing for us over the years to come.
Then one of the highlights of the night! Operatic soprano Halina Gad sang with her niece Olivia Kierdal (who sixteen years earlier, at the age of four, debuted at Marayong) one of my favourite carols the uplifting ‘O Holy Night’ in English and Polish followed by ‘Szczescie Zajasnialo nad kraina ludzka’---( the words to this carol were written by Olivia’s 97 year old grandmother Maria Kowalska together with her aunt Halina Gad and set to music by Olivia herself) and ‘Dzisiaj w Betlejem’ (with congregation).
Mid program it was time for an eagerly awaited presentation by Maja and Eugeniusz Kedziora of a lesser known carol titled ‘Gdzie jest polskie Betlejem?’ Followed by ‘Chronmy te chwile’ with Bozena Szymanska and then Maja led the congregation with ‘Dlaczego dzisiaj wsrod nocy dnieje’.
Last but definitely not least, the strong choir Chor Tecza were ready to sing under Maja Kedziora’s direction ‘Betlejemskie pole’ and ‘Promiennym blaskiem’ . It was great to see a couple of new faces joining this wonderful choir.
Time for another carol ‘Lulajze Jezuniu’ sung by the congregation led by Eugeniusz Kedziora and then Chor Tecza sang their final carols ‘Wielka Boza moc’ and ‘Serca ludzkie’.
Maja and Eugeniusz led the congregation in singing ‘Z narodzenia Pana’ and the very uplifting carol ‘Bog sie Rodzi’ (Christ is born).
Another wonderful and spiritual evening of carols came to an end and Fr.Henryk Zasiura, Parish priest of Marayong, under whose patronage this evening is enabled, came to make his parting words, thanking everyone and commenting on the richness of polish carols which number at least 200 not to mention around 600 pastorales.
In finishing, once again, thank you to Bozena Szymanska, her husband and everyone else, who made it possible for us to experience such a memorable evening.
I would like to encourage everyone to consider attending the 28th evening of Polish Christmas carols at Marayong for 2015, you won’t regret it.
Lyn Iglinski
Photos Henry Iglinski
LINKS to audio reports from the concert:
Gdzie jest polskie Betlejem
Sukces Babci Kowalskiej
Młode talenty w Marayong
Debiut Zosi Mrówki
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