Oskar Kolberg (1814–1890) the Founder of Musical Ethnography in Poland

• Main Author: Dahlig Piotr
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 2014-12-01
• Series: Musicology Today
• Subjects: traditional folk music; oskar kolberg; anthropology of culture; musical ethnography
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2478/muso-2014-0008
• ISSN: 1734-1663; 2353-5733

The article presents the greatest Polish ethnographer, who was also a professionally educated musician. He concentrated his activities on the oral musical culture, still vital in the 19th century but liable to changes. Culture studies by Kolberg concerned mainly rural communities, statistically dominating in those times. He planned to edit 60 volumes geographically covering the first Polish State from before 1772; he managed to print 33 of them in his lifetime and prepare many further anthologies for editing. Up till now, the editorial work is still in progress. The already edited 80 volumes show us an old social culture, folk ceremonies, musical repertoire including ritual singing, songs and instrumental pieces. Kolberg’s printed monument is a source of reflection on the past and can inspire social studies, ethnomusicological research as well as musical ensembles performing traditional ethnic music of peasant origin. The size of Kolberg’s documentation means that a special Institute of Oskar Kolberg had to be established to continue editorial and research work.