Agnieszka Osiecka
Encyclopedia
Agnieszka Osiecka She was a poet
, writer
, author of theatre and television screenplays, film director and journalist. She was a prominent Polish songwriter, having authored the lyrics to more than 2000 songs, and is considered an icon of Polish culture.
Agnieszka was the only child of Wiktor Osiecki, a pianist and composer, and Maria Osiecka, a scholar. She spent her early years in the small town of Zakopane
in the Tatry mountains where Wiktor Osiecki used to play the piano at the Watra Restaurant. After World War II the Osiecki family moved to Warsaw and settled in the Saska Kępa borough. The small flat, number 3 at 25 Dabrowiecka St., soon became Agnieszka Osiecka’s favourite place to work. She lived there almost her entire life and a commemorative plaque has been placed on the building by the Okularnicy Foundation.
Agnieszka was exceptionally gifted. She completed her coursework much more quickly than other students and graduated from Marie Curie-Skłodowska High School in 1952. She trained as a swimmer at Legia Sports Club and studied journalism at the University of Warsaw
(1957-1961) and film-directing at the prestigious Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź (1957-1961). She quickly realised that she possessed neither the organisational talent nor the ability to manage big groups. She preferred the outcome of her work to depend mostly on her own efforts so she dropped film-directing and started writing. Osiecka published essays and articles in the student press during her university years. She joined the famous Student Satirical Theatre (STS) in 1954 and wrote 166 political and lyrical songs for this company. She used to say "I am a journalist, that is why some of my songs are reports which rhyme." She served on the artistic board of the STS Theatre until it closed in 1972.
1962 two marked her debut on Polish National Radio. Kalina Jedrusik, the famous Polish actress, sang Agnieszka's lyrics "My First Ball" to the music of Franciszka Leszczyńska. One year later at the first Festival of Polish Song in Opole in 1963 Agnieszka achieved a major success winning the main prize and six other prizes for her songs: „Piosenka o Okularnikach,“ „Białe małżeństwo,“ „Czerwony kapturek,“ "Kochankowie z ulicy Kamiennej,“ „Solo na kontrabasie“ and „Ulice wielkich miast.“
She was now recognised as a prominent young poet and the Polish National Radio offered her a job to create and lead a team to broadcast "The Radio Song Studio." There she met many talented composers and during the seven years of its existence the team managed to record and play 500 new songs and to introduce young upcoming singers who later became stars of the Polish music scene including Ewa Demarczyk
, Maryla Rodowicz
, Łucja Prus, Wojciech Młynarski, and the Alibabki and Skaldowie
bands.
In addition to her song writing Agnieszka also worked on theatre and television productions. Together with composer Adam Sławiński she wrote a series called „Listy śpiewające“ ("Singing Letters“). Her first major theatre show „Niech no tylko zakwitną jabłonie“ ("Let the Apple-trees Bloom") was staged at the Ateneum Theatre and became an instant success. She liked to try different literary genres: monodramas, collages, musicals, novels, short stories, children stories, plays for children (including one opera for children), radio shows, poems and even advertising.
Agnieszka Osiecka’s lyrics were set to music by a number of outstanding Polish composers: Krzysztof Komeda
, Seweryn Krajewski
, Adam Sławiński, Zygmunt Konieczny
, Katarzyna Gaertner, Jacek Mikuła and many, many more. The best singers and actors wanted her to write for them. Among her favorite performers were Maryla Rodowicz
, Kalina Jędrusik, Magda Umer
, Seweryn Krajewski
and Krystyna Janda.
Agnieszka's incredibly complex and curious personality compelled her to travel, correspond with interesting people, and take photographs throughout her adult life. She was rather scared of stability never strove to achieve it. Agnieszka Osiecka and her partner, the famous journalist Daniel Passent
, had their only child, a daughter, Agata Passent, in 1973.
The Masurian Lake District, especially the tiny village of Krzyże and the forester’s lodge in Pranie were among Agnieszka Osiecka’s favorite places in Poland. She liked to vacation there in the 1960s and 1970s with a group of upcoming Polish intellectuals and artists. The coast of the Baltic Sea was also an important place for her. As a student she worked there for one of the local newspapers and in the autumn of her life she wrote for the Atelier Theatre in Sopot
. She was a frequent visitor to the Halama writers' retreat house in Zakopane, in the Tatry Mountains.
Agnieszka Osiecka published numerous books and released many records (see the full list at www.okularnicy.org.pl). She is considered one of the most important, prolific and gifted persons in postwar Polish culture and history. Agnieszka Osiecka died on March 7, 1997 after a few years of struggle with colon cancer and alcoholism. She is buried at the Powązki Cemetery
in Warsaw.
The Agnieszka Osiecka Okularnicy Foundation was founded by her daughter shortly after the poet's death. The Okularnicy Foundation promotes Agnieszka Osiecka’s work, runs the Poet‘s Archive, organizes annual singing competition „Let us Remember Agnieszka Osiecka“, manages the Internet archive (www.archiwumagnieszkiosieckiej.pl), and publishes books.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, author of theatre and television screenplays, film director and journalist. She was a prominent Polish songwriter, having authored the lyrics to more than 2000 songs, and is considered an icon of Polish culture.
Agnieszka was the only child of Wiktor Osiecki, a pianist and composer, and Maria Osiecka, a scholar. She spent her early years in the small town of Zakopane
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
in the Tatry mountains where Wiktor Osiecki used to play the piano at the Watra Restaurant. After World War II the Osiecki family moved to Warsaw and settled in the Saska Kępa borough. The small flat, number 3 at 25 Dabrowiecka St., soon became Agnieszka Osiecka’s favourite place to work. She lived there almost her entire life and a commemorative plaque has been placed on the building by the Okularnicy Foundation.
Agnieszka was exceptionally gifted. She completed her coursework much more quickly than other students and graduated from Marie Curie-Skłodowska High School in 1952. She trained as a swimmer at Legia Sports Club and studied journalism at the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
(1957-1961) and film-directing at the prestigious Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź (1957-1961). She quickly realised that she possessed neither the organisational talent nor the ability to manage big groups. She preferred the outcome of her work to depend mostly on her own efforts so she dropped film-directing and started writing. Osiecka published essays and articles in the student press during her university years. She joined the famous Student Satirical Theatre (STS) in 1954 and wrote 166 political and lyrical songs for this company. She used to say "I am a journalist, that is why some of my songs are reports which rhyme." She served on the artistic board of the STS Theatre until it closed in 1972.
1962 two marked her debut on Polish National Radio. Kalina Jedrusik, the famous Polish actress, sang Agnieszka's lyrics "My First Ball" to the music of Franciszka Leszczyńska. One year later at the first Festival of Polish Song in Opole in 1963 Agnieszka achieved a major success winning the main prize and six other prizes for her songs: „Piosenka o Okularnikach,“ „Białe małżeństwo,“ „Czerwony kapturek,“ "Kochankowie z ulicy Kamiennej,“ „Solo na kontrabasie“ and „Ulice wielkich miast.“
She was now recognised as a prominent young poet and the Polish National Radio offered her a job to create and lead a team to broadcast "The Radio Song Studio." There she met many talented composers and during the seven years of its existence the team managed to record and play 500 new songs and to introduce young upcoming singers who later became stars of the Polish music scene including Ewa Demarczyk
Ewa Demarczyk
Ewa Demarczyk is a Polish singer. She is generally associated with the Piwnica pod Baranami cabaret.Demarczyk is recognized as one of the most talented and charismatic singers in the history of Polish music. She is praised for her unique interpretations, expression and unusual stage personality...
, Maryla Rodowicz
Maryla Rodowicz
Maryla Rodowicz is a Polish singer.-Early life:She studied at Liceum Ziemi Kujawskiej in Włocławek and graduated from the Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego in Warsaw...
, Łucja Prus, Wojciech Młynarski, and the Alibabki and Skaldowie
Skaldowie
Skaldowie, a Cracow, Poland, rock group, was particularly popular from the 1960s to the 1980s. With their musical training and proximity to the folklore-rich area of Podhale, many of their tracks were a fusion of rock, folk, and classical music....
bands.
In addition to her song writing Agnieszka also worked on theatre and television productions. Together with composer Adam Sławiński she wrote a series called „Listy śpiewające“ ("Singing Letters“). Her first major theatre show „Niech no tylko zakwitną jabłonie“ ("Let the Apple-trees Bloom") was staged at the Ateneum Theatre and became an instant success. She liked to try different literary genres: monodramas, collages, musicals, novels, short stories, children stories, plays for children (including one opera for children), radio shows, poems and even advertising.
Agnieszka Osiecka’s lyrics were set to music by a number of outstanding Polish composers: Krzysztof Komeda
Krzysztof Komeda
Krzysztof Komeda was a Polish film music composer and jazz pianist. Perhaps best-known for his work in film scores, Komeda wrote the scores for Roman Polanski’s films Rosemary’s Baby, The Fearless Vampire Killers, Knife in the Water and Cul-de-sac...
, Seweryn Krajewski
Seweryn Krajewski
Seweryn Krajewski is a Polish singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the 1960s and 70s with the popular Polish band Czerwone Gitary...
, Adam Sławiński, Zygmunt Konieczny
Zygmunt Konieczny
Zygmunt Konieczny — Polish composer of theatre music and film music.Zygmunt Konieczny spent his childhood in the village of Szczyrzyc. He debuted in the 1950s in the cabaret Piwnica pod Baranami in Kraków. Since then Konieczny composed many pieces for film, theater performances and singers such as...
, Katarzyna Gaertner, Jacek Mikuła and many, many more. The best singers and actors wanted her to write for them. Among her favorite performers were Maryla Rodowicz
Maryla Rodowicz
Maryla Rodowicz is a Polish singer.-Early life:She studied at Liceum Ziemi Kujawskiej in Włocławek and graduated from the Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego in Warsaw...
, Kalina Jędrusik, Magda Umer
Magda Umer
Magda Umer is a Polish singer and performer of sung poetry, journalist, author, film director, screenwriter, actress and author of recitals.She graduated from Klement Gottwald High School in Warsaw . Later she studied at the Faculty of Polish Philology at Warsaw University...
, Seweryn Krajewski
Seweryn Krajewski
Seweryn Krajewski is a Polish singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the 1960s and 70s with the popular Polish band Czerwone Gitary...
and Krystyna Janda.
Agnieszka's incredibly complex and curious personality compelled her to travel, correspond with interesting people, and take photographs throughout her adult life. She was rather scared of stability never strove to achieve it. Agnieszka Osiecka and her partner, the famous journalist Daniel Passent
Daniel Passent
Daniel Passent - a Polish journalist and writer. He is an author of a blog which appears as a column in a Polish weekly Polityka ....
, had their only child, a daughter, Agata Passent, in 1973.
The Masurian Lake District, especially the tiny village of Krzyże and the forester’s lodge in Pranie were among Agnieszka Osiecka’s favorite places in Poland. She liked to vacation there in the 1960s and 1970s with a group of upcoming Polish intellectuals and artists. The coast of the Baltic Sea was also an important place for her. As a student she worked there for one of the local newspapers and in the autumn of her life she wrote for the Atelier Theatre in Sopot
Sopot
Sopot is a seaside town in Eastern Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000....
. She was a frequent visitor to the Halama writers' retreat house in Zakopane, in the Tatry Mountains.
Agnieszka Osiecka published numerous books and released many records (see the full list at www.okularnicy.org.pl). She is considered one of the most important, prolific and gifted persons in postwar Polish culture and history. Agnieszka Osiecka died on March 7, 1997 after a few years of struggle with colon cancer and alcoholism. She is buried at the Powązki Cemetery
Powazki Cemetery
Powązki Cemetery , also known as the Stare Powązki is a historic cemetery located in the Wola district, western part of Warsaw, Poland. It is the most famous cemetery in the city, and one of the oldest...
in Warsaw.
The Agnieszka Osiecka Okularnicy Foundation was founded by her daughter shortly after the poet's death. The Okularnicy Foundation promotes Agnieszka Osiecka’s work, runs the Poet‘s Archive, organizes annual singing competition „Let us Remember Agnieszka Osiecka“, manages the Internet archive (www.archiwumagnieszkiosieckiej.pl), and publishes books.