Gdańsk  |  Poland  |  March 1, 2025

Two premieres of solo carillon compositions in Gdańsk

On the 7th of September 2024, two new premieres of solo carillon compositions were performed in Gdańsk.

The City of Gdańsk, together with Museum of Gdańsk have an ongoing project (started in 2019) of commissioning carillon pieces from the greatest Polish composers. Every year two new compositions are commissioned, performed and published by Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne (Polish Music Editions). The scores and CD are available also here.

The project resulted in 9 compositions by such composers as Elżbieta Sikora, Agata Zubel, Paweł Mykietyn and others and will be joined this year by two new ones – Ciacona by Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa and The Gdańsk Nostalgia by Krzysztof Knittel.

City carillonist Monika Kaźmierczak performed both pieces on the 7th of September at 12 pm (Town Hall) and 3 pm (St. Catherine’s tower). Meetings with the composers were also planned before the premieres.

Five compositions are already recorded as "Contemporary Carillon" by Anaklasis, a series of Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne and available on YouTube and purchase.

Gdańsk  |  Poland  |  June 7, 2024

Gdańsk Tower Music Festival

Since 15th century there is a tradition of tower trumpeters concert in Gdańsk. The carillon has joined their concerts at least from mid-19th century. The group Tubicinatores Gedanses (Gdańsk Trumpeters) decided to revive this old tradition of playing together that was stopped by World War II.

Every Monday and Thursday from 29 July till 15 August there will be 20-minutes concerts on three Gdańsk towers, played by 4 trumpeters (natural trumpets), carillonist and drummer. The musicians are dressed in historical costumes and between the towers accompanied by a group of historical re-enactors of bourgeois and military figures from the 18th century, as well as urban shouters. Watch them on YouTube.

In addition to these events a series of educational concerts on the mobile carillon Mobillon will take place in the period 26 May till 14 July.

Gdańsk  |  Poland  |  March 8, 2024

Carillon music

Gdańsk Carillon Book is a serie of carillon music with arrangements and original compositions for carillon. 2019 and 2023 are available, also as PDF on this website. There are plans for a new edition in 2025. Katarzyna Kwiecień - Długosz has published new carillon compositions at Ars Musica publishing house.

Another ongoing project is the commissioning of carillon compositions from Polish composers. Nine compositions have already been published, a CD has been recorded, and one or two others should see the light of day during the year. Sheet music can be purchased on this website.

For more information on carillon activities in Poland, visit our website and our Facebook page.