Many of the source materials of Polish folk music traditions were stolen or destroyed during the Nazi occupation (1939–1945) of Poland. After the war, Poland undertook an intensive national effort to re-record this music by Polish folk ensembles from throughout the country. The present recording from 1952 is a small sampling of the country’s distinctive and diverse vocal and instrumental traditions. The liner notes include Polish lyrics, English translations, and descriptions of songs’ origins and composers, with an introduction from Manfred Kridl, the Adam Mickiewicz Professor of Polish Studies at Columbia University.

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