It had been a very special weekend having performed on the summit of Mount Kosciuszko and later the next day at Charlotte Pass with the Polish community.

  They were celebrating the discovery and naming of Mount Kosciuszko by Polish explorer Paul Strzelecki 167 years ago.

  A fortnight ago I received an email from the Sydney Windjammers, a woodwind ensemble based in Sydney, requesting my help in the way of playing clarinet with them on Mount Kosciuszko.

  General Tadeusz Kosciuszko was also it seems a composer between battles.

  Three of his compositions had recently been discovered and it was the intention of the Australian Polish community to have them performed at the “Kosciuszko Music On Mount Kosciuszko” celebrations.

  Breathtaking views, breathtaking treks and lugging musical gear and costumes up a mountain are not usually associated with fine performances however this was to be an exception.

Some of the Sydney Windjammers rehearsing for the cameras at the summit

   The concert opened with an address by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, His Excellency Jerzy Wieclaw, and a message from the Chairman of the Kosciuszko Mound in Cracow.

   Kosciuszko’s music by the 10 piece Sydney Windjammers, songs and poems about the area by John Hospodaryk (singer/guitarist) and others followed.

  One song: “Hi, Australian Snowy Mountains” by Joanna Kucyper, Monika Szymanska, Arkadiusz Swierski and Bydgoszcz, beautifully recorded by the Warsaw Agricultural University Choir, was played on a CD.

   Mountaineer Dancers in full traditional costume followed and I couldn’t help but ponder how at home they looked wandering the mountain slopes.

  

"Lajkonik Ensemble in harmony with each other and Mount Kosciuszko"

Traditional Polish Mountaineer dancing on Mount Koscuiszko"s Summit

   The women in their colourful long and sensibly warm skirts.

"Lajkonik Ensemble in harmony with each other and Mount Kosciuszko"

   I was delighted and thank the Polish community for including particularly “The Snowy Anthem” in the program.

  “The Snowy Anthem” is a tribute to the Snowies and its pioneers, of whom many came from Poland.

A slog to the top. Many early emigrants arrived with only a suitcase of belongings and then went one to prosper in the Snowy Mountains.

   Pronunciation of Polish words such as “Wszystko” for English speakers is something of a problem. However I had no trouble reading and expressing Kosciuszko’s Polish music.

   Music is indeed a universal language. 

   High on Mount Kosciuszko last weekend we were all as one.

  Warm friendship and optimism prevailed in a palpable atmosphere of mountain harmony.  

Yours truly taking in some mountain air and a spectacular view.

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