Circumstances of Henryk Wieniawski’s Baptism and Circumstances Accompanying the Discovery of His Baptism Certificate Cover Image

Metryka chrztu Henryka Wieniawskiego oraz nieudane próby jej odszukania przez Prof. Józefa Reissa i lubelską kurię biskupią latem 1926 r.Przyczynek d
Circumstances of Henryk Wieniawski’s Baptism and Circumstances Accompanying the Discovery of His Baptism Certificate

Author(s): Piotr Rachwał, Dominik Szulc
Subject(s): Cultural Essay, Political Essay, Societal Essay
Published by: Lubelskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne
Keywords: Henryk Wieniawski; Polish composer; Jozef Reiss; Lublin; birth certificate; disease; musician

Summary/Abstract: The first attempt, though unsuccessful, to discover the baptism certificate of Henryk Wieniawski a Polish composer of Jewish descent, was undertaken with the assistance of the Lublin Bishop Curia by professor Jozef Reiss during the summer of 1926. The search was successfully completed only as late as the 60s of the 20th century, although there is no congruence in literature with regard to the person who made the discovery. It was even later, i.e. in 1973, that Ludwik Gawroński succeeded in determining the exact place of Wieniawski’s birth in Lublin. The analysis of Materiały i źródła 131 Wieniawski’s birth certificate published at the time brings to light a number of interesting findings. For the musician, born in 1835, was baptized as late as 1837, not in the church, however, but in the family house, probably by a midwife; the sacrament in accordance with the Roman Church requirements was not repeated, and the entry concerning this event was not made in the Cathedral parish register books until 1841. The course of life of Tadeusz, Henryk’s father, in the years 1832-1849 points to the causes of such a conduct and requires posing further questions, especially whether in May of 1837 Wieniawski’s family was not struck by some disease which would have been a threat to the lives of Tadeusz’s three sons, including Henryk who later came to be famous.

  • Issue Year: 2011
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 122-131
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: Polish