Eugeniusz Szymaniak

The passion that survived

He started building the ligawki instruments over a dozen years ago and has made around 300 of them so far. His instruments are bought by people from all over the world: from Europe, Japan, and the States. They are not necessarily used for playing, but rather as decorations to be hung on a wall. Eugeniusz Szymaniak is known for constructing these traditional aerophones. He uses different types of wood: larch, pine, beech, and recently also chestnut wood. He plays the instrument himself in the time of Advent.

And it all began with his father, Czesław Szymaniak, who was a renowned ligawka player. As a little boy, he used to watch his father playing and in the age of eight he played himself quite well. They played together , using an old juniper ligawka inherited from his uncle. That over one hundred old instrument did not survive – it was smashed by local boys trying to play it. A mouthpiece was all that remained.

Eugeniusz’s father died prematurely and his passion was lost with him. The hardships of life had prevented it from flourishing. However, it was in the 90s when Eugeniusz learnt about a shepherd’s instrument contest in Ciechanowiec. He had a hunch. He took part in the competition and then he bought himself a ligawka. Following his wife’s advice, he made his first instrument himself. He enjoyed it greatly and now he owns several hundreds of them. He visits village fairs and folk ensembles festivals where he sells his products. He also takes part in the ligawka players contests. Eugeniusz can match an instrument to its future owner. He enjoys the fact that purchasers are often young people who desire to learn to play the instrument. Eugeniusz recalls with admiration a man who bought a ligawka, learnt to play it in one night and won the contest.

The time for ligawka playing is the Advent. Their sound announces the beginning of the Christmas preparations. When Eugeniusz reaches for the instrument after a year’s break, the sound is far from perfect. The best sound is achieved on a frosty day when the air is crystal clear. On such days the sound of ligawka echoes many kilometers beyond the Bug river. Then, Eugeniusz comes out of his house and plays, while others answer his song.