Kodeks Kras #4: Music Fit For a King

Musicologists commonly call it “Kras 52” – after the former reference number it was given in the Krasiński Library. It is the most valuable Polish source of medieval polyphonic music, which shaped the soundscape of the court of the first Jagiellons and Kraków at that time. The manuscript is gaining new life now, thanks to a performance edition by Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett and Marc Lewon. “The Krasiński Codex” has been published by PWM Edition with the support of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. In this podcast, we will explore the uniqueness and cultural importance of the manuscript, the need for a new edition prepared with the performer in mind, as well as the recent concert life of its repertoire. Guests: Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett – singer, harp-player, doctor of musicology. Founder and artistic director of the international ensemble Peregrina specializing in early medieval music. She has released 45 CD recordings, including 17 critically acclaimed albums of ensemble Peregrina (e.g. ECHO-KLASSIK 2009, International Classical Music Awards 2019). For many years, she has been associated with Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, where she was a member of the research faculty and lectured on the liturgical music of the 12th century. Agnieszka teaches masterclasses throughout Europe and in the USA. Author of research papers and books on Early Music. Nominated twice for the prestigious Paszport Polityki Award for bringing the forgotten medieval repertoires back to concert life. A steadfast worldwide promoter of Polish musical culture, she has prepared a monumental 10 CD recording of the complete psalms by Mikołaj Gomółka with the Polish Radio Choir, a recording of the complete works of Wacław z Szamotuł and Jan Brant, as well as the complete edition of the ‘Krasiński Codex’ (PWM 2025).   Marc Lewon is an expert for Medieval and Renaissance Music specialising in early lute instruments combining his talent as a musician with a spirit of enquiry and research, which leads him to seek out new challenges in performance practice. He holds a PhD from Oxford University and in 2017 was appointed professor for lute instruments of the Middle Ages and Early Renaissance at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. He is involved in several research projects, including the Vienna based "Musical Life of the Late Middle Ages in the Austrian Region" and the international project to collect and edit all German lute tablatures ("E-LAUTE"). Since 2019, he is part of the management team of the ReRenaissance Basel concert series.  Host: Mariusz Gradowski.   Contents (00:00) Introduction (02:08) Why is the Krasiński Codex so unique? (04:48) A national treasure (08:00) A diverse repertoire (11:02) Local flavors or scribal mistakes? (15:03) The need for a new edition (18:10) Historical contexts and new concordances (23:33) In churches and under the palm trees (30:11) Pieces brought back to life (38:48) An interdisciplinary project   ed. A. Budzińska-Bennett, M. Lewon, ‘The Krasinski Codex. A Performer's Edition with Essays and a Critical Commentary’ à https://www.musicshopeurope.com/the-krasinski-codex-pwm13177 à https://pwm.sklep.pl/kodeks-krasinskich-pl-wn-rps-8054-iii  The podcast features an excerpt of 'Leta mundus' by Wincenty of Kielcza, recorded on 'The Krasiński Codex' (Ensemble Dragma, Ensemble Peregrina, Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett; Raumklang 2024). Courtesy of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.  Co-organiser: The Adam Mickiewicz Institute. Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.