Read more
Niemen Enigmatic is the fourth album in the career of Czeslaw Niemen, arguably one of the greatest Polish musicians of all time (from pop and rock to jazz-rock and avant-garde). The book asks how significant was this album? How enduring is its popularity? Has the popularity and meanings changed over time? It does this by unpacking its production, which was unprecedented in the history of the Polish popular music due to its large number of musicians with varied backgrounds, including progressive rock, mixing jazz, rock and soul with classical music. It also examines its appeal to different segments of Polish population, and failure to reach foreign audiences, despite Niemen himself privileging this album, especially its centrepiece,
Bema pamieci zalobny rapsod (Mournful Rhapsody in Memoriam of Bem aka A Funeral Rhapsody in Memory of General Bem aka Mourner's Rhapsody), in his attempt to make a career abroad.
List of contents
Introduction
1. From an Ordinary Singer to a Prophet: The Life and Career of Czeslaw Niemen
2. From the Poem to
Poems: Inspiration, Conception and Production of
Niemen Enigmatic3. Solving the Enigma: What
Niemen Enigmatic is About?
4. Like Old Wine: Remembering
Niemen EnigmaticBibliography Index
About the author
Mariusz Gradowski is Assistant Professor at the University of Warsaw, Poland. He has published articles on the reception of rock and roll styles and genres in Polish musical culture, history of rock, history of Polish jazz, theory of film music and anthropology of music. He is also a radio journalist, hosting programmes on film music and history of jazz standards on Polish Radio Channel 2.
Summary
Niemen Enigmatic is the fourth album in the career of Czeslaw Niemen, arguably one of the greatest Polish musicians of all time (from pop and rock to jazz-rock and avant-garde). The book asks how significant was this album? How enduring is its popularity? Has the popularity and meanings changed over time? It does this by unpacking its production, which was unprecedented in the history of the Polish popular music due to its large number of musicians with varied backgrounds, including progressive rock, mixing jazz, rock and soul with classical music. It also examines its appeal to different segments of Polish population, and failure to reach foreign audiences, despite Niemen himself privileging this album, especially its centrepiece, Bema pamieci zalobny rapsod (Mournful Rhapsody in Memoriam of Bem aka A Funeral Rhapsody in Memory of General Bem aka Mourner’s Rhapsody), in his attempt to make a career abroad.
Foreword
Examines the remarkable history and significance of the album Niemen Enigmatic, released in Poland in 1970 by Polish musician Czeslaw Niemen in its national and international contexts.
