Two Sacred Songs, Op. 30 (Górecki)
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The text for the songs comes from the poems *Offertorium* and *Introit* by the contemporary Polish poet Marek Skwarnicki (1930–2013\). The poems had recently been published in Poland's main Catholic weekly, [Tygodnik Powszechny](/wiki/Tygodnik_Powszechny "Tygodnik Powszechny"), when Górecki composed the piece in 1971\. As the Polish critic, Krzysztof Droba, has noted, "The lyrical subject of Skwarnicki's verses uses phrases taken from prayer books, uses ordinary words taken from the popular language of the church, from Polish liturgies, litanies. Such prose\-like language, used colloquially, makes his utterance free of poetical embellishment, of literary conventions, of cross\-references to any cultural code. It is authentic, personal poetry."Droba, Krzysztof. *Dwie piesni sakralne*, Zeszyty naukowe zespolu analizy i interpretacji muzyki 2\. Kraków: State Higher School of Music, 1977\. 187


What is the significance of the fact that Skwarnicki's poems were recently published when Górecki composed his piece?