Polonia throughout the world share a deep affection for Christmas, which is reflected in the abundance and beauty of our Christmas carols. While kolędy like Dzisiaj w Betlejem and Lulajże Jezuniu are widely known and cherished, there also exists an entire realm of lesser-known folk carols.
Pastorałki, or “shepherd’s carols," are the folk carols of Poland. Like kolędy, they tell of Christ's birth, but the lyrics are more personal and the melodies more informal. Pastorałki often reimagine the Nativity as though it were unfolding in one’s own village, with local shepherds and farmers standing in for the the shepherds of Galilee, or Mary and Joseph wandering through the nearby countryside.
Some pastorałki are profoundly intimate, as though you were cradling the Christ Child yourself. Others are more whimsical, portraying the
shepherds as ordinary people — clumsy, scared, and sometimes craving a hearty drink and a lively song. Still others are nearly secular, with lyrics about caroling and merrymaking, and wishing your host an abundant New Year.
The rich tapestry of Polish Christmas music would be incomplete and much less colorful without pastorałki. These are the everyday folk carols that our forefathers would have sung throughout the season. My hope is that these two volumes of Folk Carols of Poland help to preserve and expand upon that cherished tradition, and that these songs bring you the same joy during the holiday season that they have brought to generations before us.
— Troy Gawlak