Mikołaj Gomółka

The 3rd LP produced by Concentus Musicus MN was ‘Music from the Royal Court of Cracow’ in 1974. Included in this collection of Polish music is a metrical psalm setting by Mikołaj Gomółka . . . one of 150 found in the only remaining example of Gomółka’s works, the ‘Melodie na Psalterz polski’ printed in Krakow in 1580.

Gomółka was born around 1535 in Sandomierz, Poland. By age 10 he was singing in the Royal Chapel of Sigismund I of Poland and continued as a Court musician for 20 years. Around 1566 he returned to Sandomierz and was quite successful as a civic leader for about 15 years. At the time of publication of his ‘Psalterz’ he returned to Cracow and was musician to a number of notables in the Capital. 1591 is the last known mention of his work there.