Zalewski, Wojciech - A Book Of Sacred Songs

The Songbook of Church Songs contains selected songs in a four-voice arrangement for organ without a pedal - for the entire liturgical year. It is intended primarily for beginner organists with a musical education at the level of a secondary music school. The basis for the development of this collection is the latest Church Songbook by Fr. Jan Siedlecki, published in Krakow in 1994. However, some songs (eg When Christ is born) were prepared according to the Liturgical Songbook (Lublin 1991), which included unknown changes in melodies resulting from the already adopted tradition. It was not the author's intention to harmonize the entire Church Songbook of Fr. Jan Siedlecki, but only those songs that are most often sung in church, and which, in my opinion, should be the basis of an organist's repertoire. The choice of the songs themselves was determined by the professional practice of the compiler, as well as a kind of poll of organ players. One can argue about the aesthetic value of some songs, but they are so deeply rooted in our tradition that it was difficult to ignore them. The keys of most songs have been lowered to a key that is comfortable for the singers. The songs are harmonized in the simplest possible way, which does not mean that they do not require proper preparation. [Witold Zalewski]