Monika Kornel, finding three unique musical scores in 2004, introduced the Polish community in Australia to the surprising notion that Tadeusz Ko¶ciuszko – an iconic national patriot – was equally a talented musical composer.

Dr Rokosz, however, was no stranger to Ko¶ciuszko’s musical world, having organised a concert of the national hero’s compositions on the 23rd of November 1994 – the programme comprising two polonaises and a waltz, and played by a chamber orchestra. The notes to the arrangements, found in the collections of the Historical Museum of Krakow, were originally published in England.

“I said that it [the pieces] may have been too short for a concert,” Dr Rokosz said. “And so the members of the chamber orchestra struck upon the idea of including several divertimentos by Mozart.”

When asked if the Director knew of any other performances of the pieces, Dr Rokosz replied that the Australian group The Windjammers' initiative of playing the compositions was testament to the universality of Ko¶ciuszko – of his belonging to the entire world.

However, was the discoverer of Mount Kosciuszko, located in our Australian Alps, present at the inauguration of the Mound in Krakow? Certain descendants of Pawe³ Edmund Strzelecki have claimed such a fact, though Dr Rokosz is somewhat unconvinced.

“There are no clear certifications that Strzelecki participated, be it in the pouring [of soil] or in the inauguration … If he had participated though, it could only have been on the 16th of October 1820, in the laying of the foundation below the mound,” he said.

The Director also affirmed that Micha³ Stachowicz, the artist of the famous painting The Oath of Ko¶ciuszko – now hanging in the gallery of the Sukiennice market in Kraków – was present at the burial of Tadeusz Ko¶ciuszko and also witnessed the tumulus construction. Puls Polonii is to reveive a copy of his "Kopiec" painting soon.

Translated by £ukasz ¦wi±tek