Oskar Zawisza

Who was Oskar Zawisza?

Oskar Zawisza was a Polish Catholic priest, composer and educational activist.

He was son of a teacher from Jablunkov. Zawisza finished German gymnasium in Bielsko and Theological faculty in Olomouc. He was a pupil of Czech composer Josef Nešvera. Zawisza was ordained as a priest on 23 July 1902. Then he became curate in Petrovice u Karviné, Dolní Bludovice, Niemiecka Lutynia, Strumień and Cieszyn. On 1 July 1911 he became a rector in Těrlicko.

He collaborated with Gwiazdka Cieszyńska and Zaranie Śląskie magazines. Zawisza conducted historical and etnographic research and wrote also several books: Dzieje Strumienia, Dzieje Karwiny and Śpiewnik góralski; and operas Dożynki, Święta Barbara and Czarne diamenty, symphonic poem Znad brzegów Olzy and symphony Z niwy śląskiej.