Research Library of the Polish Composers' Union

In 2018, the Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne publishing house in Cracow (the PWM Edition) published a crime fiction – a detective story entitled Sidła (Snares), written originally in 1968 by the famous Polish composer and violinist Grażyna Bacewicz. On the basis of this novel, the radio play was produced, in adaptation and direction of Aleksandra Głogowska. In 2023, the Polish Radio ‘Radio dla Ciebie’ released a CD entitled Sidła, which contains about two hours of the radio play and the booklet with a very interesting text by Joanna Sendłak, granddaughter of Grażyna Bacewicz.

In the radio play Sidła the composer’s chamber and orchestral music was used. Works of Grażyna Bacewicz are played here by Jakub Jakowicz (violin), Bartosz Bednarczyk (piano) and the Polish National Philharmonic Orchestra (Warsaw Philharmonic), conducted by Witold Rowicki and Stanisław Wisłocki. Grażyna Bacewicz’s music serves here rather as a background, but this background is well harmonised with the flow of action. The content of Sidła is a history of police investigation run by inspector Decise after a murder of a young woman called Helen Fool. The action takes place in the United States of America. 11 actors participated in the realisation of the radio play, including the narrator with the characteristic warm tone of voice – famous Polish actor Mirosław Baka.

We strongly believe that this literary output is a very interesting part of Grażyna Bacewicz’s creative work. Although it may seem surprising at the beginning for all those who know the author as a musician, getting acquainted with her writings can surely enriched our understanding of this great personality which has for many decades fascinated and inspired so many people throughout the world.

We thank the Polish Radio ‘Radio dla Ciebie’ for having provided us with free copies of the CD which is now available to our library users. (fjw, Iz.)