Cyprian Bazylik

Cyprian Bazylik (c. 1535 in Sieradz – c. 1600) was a Polish composer, usually designated as C.B. or C.S. (Cyprian of Sieradz). Besides writing music, he was also a writer, poet, and printer.

"Zaniechaj towarzystwa z ludźmi złościwemi" by Cyprian Bazylik, performed by Collegium Vocale Bydgoszcz

Biography

He was a townsman from Sieradz. In the semester of 1550/1551 he matriculated at the Krakow Academy. He had already leaned towards Calvinism. He created poetic and musical works. Thanks to the support of Mikołaj Radziwiłł the Black, he received a position in the chancellery of Sigismund Augustus in Vilno. In 1557 he met Jacob Heraclides Basilicus and with his support was ennobled under his patron's coat of arms and name, as well as the title poeta laureatus. In 1558 he went to Lithuania, where he became a musician and rhyme-maker at the court of Mikolaj Radziwill the Black (along with Wacław of Szamotuły, who was already there). In 1569 he was secretary to Sieradz voivode Olbracht Łaski. He also soon married Agnes Lern, daughter of Stanislaw, a townsman from Krakow. He was a chanceller, printer and translator of Calvinist publications. In 1569-1570 he was the owner of the Radziwill printing house in Brest. He held the office of alderman in Mielnik and in the affiliated village of Orlovo. On November 25, 1576 he received from Stefan Batory the use of 7 fiefs (about 115 hectares) in the royal village of Moszczona and a lifetime security of aldermanship. On February 20, 1591, for unknown reasons, he relinquished the right to these estates to Stanisław Kuczkowski.

Recordings

• 10 songs, a capella, Bornus Consort, Marcin Bornus-Szczyciński.
• 19 songs, Subtilior Ensemble, Cantilena Sieradz, Ars Nova, director pl:Jacek Urbaniak