Kozłowski's Requiem was first performed on February 25, 1798, at the state funeral of King Stanisław August Poniatowski in St. Petersburg.
Interpretation
For this recording, conductor Hans Graf chose to perform the original 1798 version of the Requiem, omitting additions made by Kozłowski for the 1825 revival.
Compositional Technique
The Requiem is set in the unusual key of E-flat Minor and begins with a combined Requiem et Kyrie movement, a feature common to Austro-Hungarian composers.
Notable Performances
The Requiem had an unexpected revival in 1825, performed at the funeral for Tsar Alexander I of Russia, even though he belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Historical Context
The Requiem was composed at a time when Poland had ceased to exist as a sovereign nation, having been partitioned between the Habsburg Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Russian Empire.
Composition History
Józef Kozłowski, a Polish composer, received a commission from the abdicated King Stanisław August Poniatowski to write this Requiem for the king's own funeral.
Recording & Production
The score for this Requiem was not available from any publisher; the manuscript was located in a St. Petersburg library by Hans Sørensen of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
