Interpretation of myth in the works of Karol Szymanowski: from modernity to neo-folklore

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Abstract: The Polish art of the early XX century sands out overcoming the genre limitations and enriching the techniques thanks to the synthesis of the expressive literary means, painting, and music. Due to reframing the themes of antiquity in the context of modernity and symbolism, their new interpretations have appeared; the other part of this process consisted in the interest towards the ancient layers of the national folklore. The written in 1910-1920’s by Karol Szymanowski compositions, demonstrated the intensive search for the new technical means, as well as characteristic qualities of musical symbolism and modernity, in the end expressing the composer’s idea on the national Polish style. Reconceptualizing the ancient and medieval mythology, Polish artists gravitated towards understanding the eternal problems of the universe, and simultaneously referred to the national themes. Karol Szymanowski ballet “Harnasie” and cantata Stabat Mater expressed not only the artistic trends of its time, but also convincingly realized the national self-consciousness, manifested in the form of customs and legends.