Grzegorz Turnau – the poet of the song

Grzegorz Turnau, born on July 31, 1967, in Cracow, is one of the most recognizable Polish musicians, whose work combines elements of jazz, classical music, and poetry. His musical career began in the 1980s when he started performing on the stages of Cracovian jazz clubs.

In 1984, as a high school student, he received First Prize at the 20th Student Song Festival. Soon afterward, he joined Piwnica pod Baranami, with which he was associated for 13 years. In his youth, he frequently visited his grandparents in Inowrocław, where he organized cyclical concerts entitled Inowrocławska Noc Solannowa, performing with invited artists. In 2013, he received honorary citizenship from Inowrocław. Apart from Kraków and Inowrocław, he is also connected to Baniewice in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, where Winnica Turnau is located, founded by Grzegorz along with Zbigniew and Jacek Turnau and Tomasz Kasicki. Privately, Turnau is the husband of flautist Maryna Barfuss and is the father of Antonina Kondrat, who is married to Marek Kondrat.

Grzegorz Turnau: a virtuoso of words and melody

Turnau is a graduate of the State Secondary Music School in Kraków, where he studied piano. His musical education enabled him to craft a unique style garnering wide recognition among both critics and audiences. Grzegorz Turnau’s work stands out for its extraordinary blend of music and poetry. His songs are often reflective, rich with metaphors and literary allusions, offering listeners multiple layers of interpretation.

In 1991, he released his debut album ‘Naprawdę nie dzieje się nic’ (‘Nothing Is Going On Really’) which was a commercial success and earned him the Fryderyk award for debut of the year. Since then, Turnau has released many albums that have been popular and appreciated for their lyrical content and melodies.

His contribution to Polish culture has been acknowledged with numerous awards, including the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for outstanding services to Polish culture.

Albums and songs

Turnau debuted with the album ‘Naprawdę nie dzieje się nic’ (‘Nothing Is Going On Really’), which immediately highlighted his talent as a composer and lyricist. Subsequent albums, such as ‘Pod Światło’ (‘Against The Light’) and ‘To tu, to tam’ (‘Here And There’), solidified his standing on the Polish music scene. Each of these albums brought new hits, such as ‘Cichosza’ (‘Quietly’ or Hush’) or ‘Bracka’ (Bracka is the name of one of the Cracovian streets), quickly winning the hearts of the audience.

Discography:

• Naprawdę nie dzieje się nic (1991)
• Pod światło (1993)
• To tu, to tam (1995)
• Tutaj jestem (1997)
• Księżyc w misce (1998)
• Ultima (1999)
• Złota kolekcja: Kawałek cienia (2000)
• Nawet (2002)
• Cafe Sułtan (2004)
• 11:11 (2005)
• Historia pewnej podróży (2006)
• Do zobaczenia (2010)
• Fabryka klamek (2010)
• Złota kolekcja: Uno Momento Mortis / Dotąd doszliśmy (2013)
• 7 widoków w drodze do Krakowa (2014)
• L (2017)
• Bedford School (2018)

Cooperation with other poets

Turnau is known for his ability to incorporate poetry into his works, often drawing from the writings of Polish poets such as Julian Tuwim or Zbigniew Herbert, and interpreting them through his compositions. He also collaborated with Wisława Szymborska, whose texts often served as the foundation for his songs. His album ‘Coś pozytywnego’ (‘Something Optimistic’) features compositions with Szymborska’s words, showcasing his profound understanding of poetry and his ability to adapt it to music.

Grzegorz Turnau – concerts and performances

Turnau is also celebrated for his live performances, which create a unique atmosphere of intimacy and closeness with the audience. His concerts are not only a presentation of songs, but often musical and poetic performances, in which the artist shares his thoughts and interpretations with the audience.

Check it out – Grzegorz Turnau’s concerts

Grzegorz Turnau, with his deep understanding of music and poetry, remains one of the most influential and respected artists on the Polish music scene.

Transtation: Aleksandra Żaczek
Top picture – Rafał Masłow (from the official profile of Grzegorz Turnau on Facebook)

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