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Edward Maj, the famous Polish composer and violin virtuoso, was born on 29th September 1893 in Częstochowa, son of Stanisław Maj and Aleksandra Piątkiewicz. Having turned seven, he was enrolled in a Russian school in Piotrków, while at the same time taking lessons of violin from his father, and later from professors Grochowski, Brandt and Zawadzki in that order. At the age of 15, he continued studying the violin as well as harmony and instrumentation under professor Wawrzynowicz and professor Neusser at a music school in Częstochowa. With the latter he worked in a small symphonic orchestra, first as a violinist, and then as assistant conductor. At the age of 18, Edward Maj was appointed to his first position as conductor of a brass band and a small salon orchestra at „Huldczyński“ iron works in Zawiercie, where he worked for four years until the outbreak of the First World War. In 1914-1918, Edward Maj led a small symphony orchestra and a mixed choir at Raków near Częstochowa, and later a brass band at Biały Kościół near Ojców. After the War, Edward Maj conducted a brass orchestra at Korzkiew near Ojców, and from 13th July to 27th September 1920 he led an army orchestra of the 5th Engineering Battalion on the Kościuszko Mound in Kraków. In the following years, Edward Maj headed a brass orchestra at Wawrzeńczyce in Miechów district, a peasant orchestra dressed in traditional homespun coats and an orchestra and choir at the paper mill in Myszków. In 1930, Edward Maj won a competition for the position of the band master of the City of Kraków Brass and Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted until the outbreak of the Second World War.

The Interbellum is marked by a streak of successes of the orchestra conducted by Edward Maj as well as by the upswing of the composer’s creative talent. As the then widely read „Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny” wrote: it was hard to imagine the pre-war Kraków without the City Orchestra and its conductor Edward Maj. It participated in all of the most important celebrations held in the Royal City: the Independence Day, the 3rd May Constitution Anniversary, „Kraków Days”, the anniversary of the archbishop prince Adam Sapieha, and in historical events, such as Marshall Piłsudski’s funeral procession to the tomb in Wawel (1935) and Karol Szymanowski’s to Skałka church (1937), to name just a few. It is during the period between the wars that Edward Maj’s internationally renowned pieces for brass and symphony orchestra were composed: marsz koncertowy P.O.S. (the State Sport Badge concert march), Odwach (Corps de Garde), Prezydent (President), Na falach eteru (On the air), whose fragment was used as the jingle of the radio programme „Wesoła lwowska fala” (The Merry Wave of Lwow), Apel Strzelecki (Riflemen’s Muster), Laur żołnierski (Soldier’s Laurel), and others.

On 16th December 1936, the Home Ministry granted Edward Maj an award in a music competition for a parade march with four fanfares. His winning composition was „Fanfare March in B flat major for brass band”. During this period Maj composed also other pieces for brass and symphony orchestra: marches, polkas, krakowiaks, polonaises, overtures, a funeral march, as well as several pieces glorifying the city of Kraków, such as the marches: Na krakowskiej fali (On the Wave of Kraków) and Krakus (The Cracow Man).

After the Second World War, Edward Maj directed the City Authority of Kraków brass orchestra, which was reactivated in 1947, and – under the composer’s baton – accompanied the funeral procession of the renowned Polish actor and director Juliusz Osterwa to the Salwator Cemetery. Sadly, the orchestra was disbanded in 1951 due to lack of funds. In 1952, Edward Maj was music director of the „Krakowiacy” song and dance ensemble, and then for two years he led the symphony orchestra of the National Printing House and the orchestra and choir of „Łączność” company in Kraków. In 1954-55, Edward May directed the „Handlowcy” song and dance ensemble, and in 1957 he set up a brass band for the Lime Company at Czatkowice. After the Second World War, Edward Maj also worked as proof-reader for Wydawnictwo Muzyczne (Music Publishers) in Kraków, and was a member of the ZAiKS Asociation of Authors.

Edward Maj died in Kraków on 7th April 1967. He is buried in the family tomb at Rakowice cemetery. Edward Maj’s pieces are widely performed in Poland and around the world, especially in Germany, USA and Canada at music festivals, as well as being used in film scores for both features and documentaries. Recently, the P.O.S. march could be heard in Andrzej Wajda’s film “Katyń”. The later composers named Edward Maj „the King of Polish Marches”, acknowledging him as the greatest Polish author of this musical form. At present, the artistic output of the composer is under the care of his dearest daughter Krystyna Lepszy and granddaughter Katarzyna Lepszy-Muszyńska.