Five Songs for Children to words by Józef Czechowicz for voice and piano (1955)
The piece was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and Art. It is dedicated to the singer Jadwiga Dzikówna. Its premiere in 1955 featured Halina Łukomska and Tadeusz Baird.
Baird used J. Czechowicz’s poems to create a five-part cycle:
Each part is a children’s song with a simple melody and uncomplicated piano accompaniment. The whole work is characterised by free harmony with clear points of reference, rhythmic clarity of progression as well as joyful and light mood with folk overtones. The outer parts are lively and cheerful, while the middle parts resemble subtle lullabies.
The composition is written for young listeners and its style is neo-classical. This was Baird’s only attempt to tackle poetry for children in his own work.
