"Do not broadcast toothless old ladies". A handful of memories from work at the Editorial Office of Folk and Choir Music of Polish Radio

Abstract

MARIA BALISZEWSKA ethnomusicologist and journalist. She has been working for the Polish Radio since 1973. The author of many programmes on folk themes and recordings of Polish musical folklore, as well as studio and festival recordings. The founder and manager of the Radio Folk Culture Center (1994–2007), coordinator of the European Radio Union for traditional and folk music (1998–2009), judge for traditional music festivals and parades (including the National Festival of Folk Bands and Singers in Kazimierz and the International Competition of Folk Bands and Singers in Zakopane). In 1998 she initiated the Folk Festival of Polish Radio Nowa Tradycja. The author of many Muzyka Źródeł albums, the series published by Polish Radio, as well as other albums, incl. Pod Tatrami na dolinie (Polskie Radio, Accord, PolyGram 1996), Pologne. Instruments Populaires (Radio France 1996), Welcome Europe 2004. New European Soundscapes (EBU, Polskie Radio 2004). A member of the Polish Composers Union and the Scientific Council of the Folk Artists Association. She was honored, among others, with the Golden Microphone (1993), the medal of Zygmunt Gloger (2003), the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Award (2007) and the Oskar Kolberg Award (2014).