The idea of creation and establishing the orchestra emerged exactly on 24 December 1946, when the scouts of the first squad of singers in memorial of general D. Chłapowski, working at the K. Morawski Secondary School nr 2, met in the Scouts House for the traditional “tea”. All the scouts took part in the preparation works. At the beginning the public didn’t believe in the possibility of establishing and maintaining such an orchestra. The scouts enthusiasm and persistence in their intentions caused that the Scouts Authorities of the city, the gymnasium management and even some parents gradually started to help with realization of these plans. Some musically-gifted colleagues were invited to the first squad. These were: Jan Palczewski and Lesław Lica, who willingly and actively took part in the preparations, activated the actions and carried the intentions into effect – organizing the orchestra together. The personal composition of the orchestra arised of the entire cultural basis of Przemyśl, the city’s ambitions, aspirations and traditions of our parents and grandparents. In autumn 1949 there wasa break in the activities of the Scouts Brass Orchestra. It was caused by two reasons. Firstly: 16 members of the orchestra started their university studies. Secondly: The Polish Scouts’ Association was incorporated into a nation-wide youth movement and the Scouts’ Organizations was created at the Polish Youth Union. Only primary schools students could be members of the Scouts’ Organization, which made the maintenance of the Brass Orchestra impossible. During the pause in the orchestra’s activities the scouts played in students’ bands, the Przemysl Raylway Brass band. Others were called up to the Polish Army Orchestras.

In January 1967 a senior scout Jerzy Dziukiewicz performing the functions of the deputy scoutmaster of the Przemyśl Scout Troops of the PSA came to the agreement with the scoutmaster Zbigniew Majewski about reactivation of the Scouts’ Brass Orchestra. The scoutmaster and the deputy used to be members of the orchestra from 1947 to 1949. Having in the Scout Troops such music instructors as senior scouts Jan Niemiec and Zdzisław Strzępek and also Henryk Guran, playing the trumpet in a railway orchestra, we had a group of active members intending to reactivate the brass orchestra. The duties of the manager were passed to the then leader of “Watersiders” a senior scout Zdzisław Sabramowicz. Above-mentioned people started their work eagerly. Senior scouts J. Dziukiewicz and H. Guran appeared to be great tutors of young people and they admited new candidates to the orchestra. These were young scouts from the J. Słowacki Secondary School nr1. The activity of the reactivated orchestra was started during the scout camp in Śnietnica near Krynica from 28 July to 18 August 1967. The teaching to play the instruments began from the basic elements. Except the managing staff, nobody has had a contact with a brass instrument before. Therefore, the young musicians had to work very hard to learn the notation and blast. The main purpose was to prepare at least two marches in order to make a public appearance. Many members of the Scouts’ orchestra continued their interest completing musical studies and later –working in this profession. In 1980 there was a Congress under the leadership of Rev. Władysław Dec. It was the meeting of all the Orchestra members since 1946, that is from the very beginning of the Orchestra’s activities. The Congress was winded up by a solemn concert at the Provincial Social and Recreation Club in Przemyśl. With the time, the older members began to leave the membership of the orchestra to start their academy studies. Unfortunatelly , there were very few young people who wanted to join the band. Despite the intense efforts of the then bandmaster Jan Niemiec, Zdzisław Sabramowicz and many other members, the Orchestra’s activities had to be suspended in 1985. The last seat of the Orchestra was in the Youth Social and Recreation Club in Przemyśl.

In 1998 on senior scouts Jan Semków and Jan Łaskarzewski’s initiative the Brass Orchestra of the Przemyśl District Scout Troops was reactivated. Thanks to their determination, the first members joined the orchestra in May 1998. These were mainly students of 8-class Primary School in Żurawica under the headmaster Jan Semków (at present – the headmaster of gymnasium). The school building became the place of the orchestra training and “the storage” of instruments passed on by the Przemyśl District Scouts’ Troops. The whole organization took place under the control of a senior scout Jan Semków. It must by noticed that the delivered instruments were wasted and incomplete. Moreover, there weren’t and wood-wind brass instruments. The orchestra didn’t have any music materials, what made the additional difficulties in creating the orchestra from the basis. Considering the orchestra’s stability and continuity, and looking ahead into the future of band being formed, we worked out some forms and methods of procedure. Our most fundamental intentions are: systematical enrolment of new members with the assistance of musically-gifted young people, regular repairs of used instruments and collecting new ones, creating a reportoire library: organizing annual rest and training camps during the summer holidays and, if possible, music workshop during the school year. Moreover, encouraging musically-gifted teenagers to continue their studies at the Secondary School of Music in Przemyśl for further self-achievement. One of the most important aims is to procure the funds. The basic income necessary for the orchestra’s functions comes yearly from the Local Administration of a Commune Council in Żurawica. The first concert of the orchestra took place in October 1998 during the Holy Mass at the Parish Church in Lower Żurawica. The orchestra played an Eucharistic song “Bądźże pozdrowiona” and the Jasna Góra Aubade performed by the conductors. Moreover, at Christmas time The Orchestra added some splendor to the Liturgy of Holy Mass at the parishes in Lower and Upper Żurawica and Wyszatyce, and also at a Christmas meeting in the Local Administration Council in Żurawica and Holy Mass for scouts at the Holy Trinity Church in Przemyśl. Concerning the music materials, the orchestra used some assignments of the Salesyan Fathers Orchestra. Together with the growth of music abilities of young players, the bandmaster started to introduce some professional music materials to enrich the Orchestra’s repertoire. Until now, the Orchestra can pride itself on many concerts both in our region and in the whole country (among others: Przemyśl, Częstochowa, Jarosław, Serock, Rzeszów, Stary Dzików, Zakopane, Mielec). The Orchestra took part in the Festival of Brass Orchestras in Mielec, where it came in first place and also won a prize in Serock. At present the Orchestra has got a very rich repertoire for concerts and special occasions.

It also has got a chamber band attached to it called “Żurawica BRASS”, which like the orchestra gave many concerts in the region and other parts of the country (among others: Warsaw, Serock, Zakopane, Mielec, Łańcut). The band also cooperates with the Archdiocese Choir “MAGNIFICAT” in Przemyśl. In 2002 the group was placed the second at the I All-Polish Festival of Brass Instruments in Mielec. It has got its own reportoire for concerts and special occasions.

Summing up this period, we can say that it was very successful. However, there is still necessity for hard work and financial supplies. Yet, we must realize that it is a permanent process, which after all will continue, regardless of the time we live in.

Text: Jan Łaskarzewski
Translation:
Małgorzata Tereszkiewicz

Contact: Gimnazjum im 2 Pułku Pancernego ul. Jana Pawła II 194 37-710 Żurawica tel./fax. +48 16 671 33 88 dyr. Jan Semków e-mail: jsemkow@op.pl tel. dom. +48 16 671 35 81 tel. kom. +48 501 511 390