Psalmy Adama Walacińskiego w filmie Jerzego Kawalerowicza Matka Joanna od Aniołów. Pytanie o tożsamość gatunku
Joanna od Aniołów by Jerzy Kawalerowicz. The question on genre identity

Author(s): Ewa Czachorowska-Zygor
Subject(s): Music
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Summary/Abstract: The film, being a synthetic work of art, has been connected with music which is beingincorporated into it, and performs different functions in it, since its existence. In the case ofthe film by Jerzy Kawalerowicz, the music was composed by Adam Walaciński specially forthe purposes of the film. The references to the musical tradition a psalm and choral one arevery clear.There exists a clear correlation between the visual and auditory sphere. Dualism of theworld presented centred around the space of the monastery and tavern, has its musicalcounterpart in the sound layer created by the compositions devoted to a female choir a capellaon the one hand, and frivol song sung by Małgorzata, one of the characters, in the tavernon the other hand. In such a way, the musical side of the film is largely limited, whichseems to match the esthetic assumptions of film makers aiming at deepening the expressionof asceticism, severity and simplicity. It is easy to find the elements pointing to the sourcesof inspiration: modeling the sound material on Middle Age scales, asceticism of the melodicline with the advantage of a syllabic singing, flexibilite within the scope of rhythmicisity, andthe appearance of the recitation of incipit psalms, finalis and repercusio sounds in Psalms byWalaciński despite the fact that they were performed by a female choir a capella (which isthe exception to the choral tradition deriving from the plot). All these factors make Psalmsclose to the genre assumptions, introducing, at the same time, a circle of references connectedto the notion of the sacred. In combination with the sphere of the profane, clearlyoutlined both in the visual and auditory layer, a coherent whole is created in which music byAdam Walaciński does not only complete, but, definitely, deepens and develops the pictureby Jerzy Kawalerowicz.

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