Music in Dialogue with God: Religious Works of Andrzej Nikodemowicz

Ewa NIDECKA

Abstract

The aim of the article is to show the specificity of the oeuvre of Andrzej Nikodemowicz (1925-2017) as being a result of his reflection and relationship with God, understanding the meaning of religious texts and bearing witness to the Christian attitude. Nikodemowicz’s creative path was shaped by the tradition of the Catholic Church. Religious music accompanied him from the beginning of his work, constituting one of its main sections. His religious compositions comprise hymns and settings of contemporary religious poetry and are inspired by Marian themes, eschatological issues, and the questions pertaining to the condition of man as a fallen creature. A significant number of works of this type testifies to the composer’s adherence to a specific set of values which defined his artistic path. In this context, the last period in the composer’s creative activity, covering the years 2010-2016, seems to be particularly important, focused on faith and prayer. His deep faith in God allowed Nikodemowicz to endure the most difficult moments of his life, and his religious work invariably appears as a peculiar dialogue with God.