Żelazowa Wola (Polish pronunciation: [ʐɛlaˈzɔva ˈvɔla]) is a village in Gmina Sochaczew, Sochaczew County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland.[1] It lies on the Utrata River, some 8 kilometres (5 mi) northeast of Sochaczew and 46 km (29 mi) west of Warsaw.
Żelazowa Wola | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 | |
  Żelazowa Wola | |
| Coordinates: 52°15′N 20°19′E / 52.250°N 20.317°E | |
| Country |  Poland |
| Voivodeship | Masovian |
| County | Sochaczew |
| Gmina | Sochaczew |
| Population | 65 |
The name means "Iron will" in Polish. The village is known for being the birthplace of the Polish pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin, and for its picturesque Masovian landscape, including numerous winding streams surrounded by willows and hills.
In 1909, in celebration of Chopin's centenary, Russian composer Sergei Lyapunov wrote the symphonic poem Zhelazova Vola (Żelazowa Wola), Op. 37 (Russian: Желязова-Воля), "in memory of Chopin".[2]
Housed in an annex to the Chopins's home, surrounded by a park, is a museum devoted to the composer. In summer, concerts of his music are performed by pianists from all over the world, who play inside the family home for an outside audience. In an adjacent park is a monument to the pianist, designed by Józef Gosławski.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Central Statistical Office (GUS) – TERYT (National Register of Territorial Land Apportionment Journal)" (in Polish). 2008-06-01.
- ^ Crocks Newsletter
- ^ Rudzka, Anna; Hanna Wróblewska-Straus (2009). "O pomniku romantycznym słów kilka". Józef Gosławski. Rzeźby, monety, medale (in Polish). Warsaw: Alegoria. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-83-62248-00-1.