‘A Nestor of Polish Musicians?’ Józef Brzowski and His Family in the Light of Church Registers and Other Documents
Abstract
Józef Brzowski (1805–88) was a major figure in nineteenth-century Warsaw’s musical life. His date of birth has not been confirmed in sources to date. Research in the registers of Warsaw’s Parish of St Andrew has revealed Brzowski’s birth certificate dated 18th April 1805, along with place of birth: a house at 703, Leszno Street (mortgage repertory number, corresponding to the later No. 62). Enclosed with this certificate is a correction dated 1835, concerning erroneous spelling of the musician’s surname in the original document.
The composer’s parents, Karol Brzowski (ca 1768–1831?) and Tekla née Przeździecka (ca 1773–1851), had, apart from this son, also probably four daughters, for three of whom we have personal data: Karolina (1798?–1813), student at the Drama School, Zofia (1800–79), actress at the National Theatre, married to Karol Kurpiński, and Tekla Klementyna (1809–11).
In 1835 Józef Brzowski got married to Anna Elżbieta Dückert née Ketschon (1795?–1843), widow of Karol Fryderyk Dückert (ca 1764–1834); the Brzowskis had a daughter, Jadwiga Wawrzyna (1830–after 1892), baptised only after their parents’ wedding. In 1849, the musician got married again, this time to Florentyna Górecka (1819?–1905), with whom he had a son, Alexander (1843–58), a Drama School student, baptised (like his elder sister) after his parents had married. Józef Brzowski died on 3rd or 4th December 1888; the date on the death certificate differs from those on the composer’s grave and announced in the press.
Jadwiga Wawrzyna Brzowska grew up to be a pianist of international fame; she gave concerts from 1840 onwards. During her 1860 stay in New Orleans, she got married to the French consul Eugène August Méjan (1814–74). Brzowska-Méjan died after 1892, possibly even after 1903.
Brzowski, one of the most prominent Warsaw musicians, was forgotten soon after his death. It is possible that it was his social and family connections (he was Karol Kurpiński’s brother-in-law as well as a friend to Fryderyk Chopin) rather than the composer’s own talent that helped him launch his career.
Keywords:
Józef Brzowski, Jadwiga Brzowska-Méjan, Karol Kurpiński, nineteenth-century Warsaw, Warsaw Music Institute, genealogical researchReferences
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