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Wojciech Dlugoraj
(b 1557 or 1558; d probably after c1619)
Polish lutenist and composer.
'Gostinensis', indicating his birthplace, can refer to many
places in different parts of Poland. He was in the service
of the Polish nobleman Samuel Zborowski, an important
political figure, who had him educated for the position of
lutenist at his court but alienated him by his notorious
brutality.
In 1579 Dlugoraj fled from his master and entered
the Observants' monastery at Krakow, but he was expelled in
1581 because of his improper mode of life. He then became
lutenist to an unknown master, but Zborowski sought him out
and compelled him to return to his service. In 1583 Dlugoraj
revealed politically compromising letters to King
Stefan Batory, thereby contributing to the execution of
Zborowski and the banishment of his brother Krzysztof.
From 15 September 1583 to December 1586 he was a lutenist
at the royal court. He then apparently left Poland after
the king's death for fear of the Zborowski family's
vengeance and went to Germany, possibly to Stuttgart or
Leipzig. The compilation of the great Leipzig lutebook of
about 1619 (D-LEm II.6.15) is attributed to him. Literary
sources refer to him as an eminent virtuoso. His art most
probably lay in skilful improvisation, as may be inferred
from the comparatively small number of extant pieces by him
and from the improvisational nature of his three
most 'personal' compositions, two fantasias and a fugue.
His surviving pieces indicate a marked interest in
folkdances, both Polish and Italian (as in the villanellas);
one of his fantasias also includes certain dance elements.
The 'finale' is a series of three variations on a cantus firmus.
WORKS
all for lute
Fantasia, finale, 6 villanellas, 160315; ed. in WDMP, xxiii (1953, rev. 2/1964); 5 pieces ed. in MAP, ii/5 (1994)
Fantasia, prelude, villanella, I-Gu (after 1603)
Pol. dance, D-W (dated 1603--4); ed. in ZHMP, ii (1962)
2 villanellas, 2 Pol. dances, fantasia, fugue, volta, LEm
(dated 1619, works attrib. 'A.D.', probably by Dlugoraj);
2 Pol. dances ed. in ZHMP, ii (1962);
fantasia and
2 villanellas ed. Z. Steszewska in H. Feicht:
Muzyka staropolska (Krakow, 1966)
Other anon. works probably by Dlugoraj, LEm II.6.15
PIOTR POZNIAK