CHAPTER V.
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS IN POLAND BEFORE AND IN CHOPIN'S TIME.
THE golden age of Polish music, which coincides with that of Polish literature, is the sixteenth century, the century of the Sigismonds.

The most remarkable musician of that time, and probably the greatest that Poland produced previous to the present century, was Nicolas Gomolka, who studied music in Italy, perhaps under Palestrina, in whose style he wrote.

Born in or about the beginning of the second half of the sixteenth century, he died on March 5, 1609.

During the reigns of the kings of the house of Saxony (1697-1763) instrumental music is said to have made much progress.

Be this as it may, there was no lack of opportunities to study good examples.