Ritual II | Sacrum Profanum

What does the Wielkopolska cheers have in common with the music of a rite that never existed? Drone, rehearsal and the belief that traditional instruments are not exclusively a thing of the past.

About the event

Wiwaty's album grows out of Wielkopolska traditional music and brings out avant-garde potential from it. Karol and Filip Majerowski turn to fragments of melodies by Walente Żmuda and Szczepan Sadowski, the Kurowski brothers, Tomasz Brudła and Franciszka Ciesiółka, treating them not as quotations, but as an inspiration to think differently about sound. The continuous tone of the bagpipes, brass instruments and voices lengthen the musical time until the rhythm begins to dissolve in resonance and the melodies reveal microtonal tensions, rumbling and performance imperfections. Everything happens without electronics. With the music of Sara Davachi, this material combines elegance and patience with which the sound develops and reveals the next harmonic components. For us, this is part of the new piping scene with Brìghde Chaimbeul or Harry Górski-Brown at the helm, whom you already know from previous editions. The bagpipes act as an acoustic oscillator and retain a regional identity. WCIAS does not modernize tradition — experiment has long been present in it.

After the intervention of Jakub Ziółkowski, a similar language will take over Kromleh, but it will break his connection with a particular region and source. Pancerza's crank lyre and Maćek's percussion, known from the album Na komary, will meet in a new composition with the Indian stringed instrument, Sylwestra Sudnik's santur. It will not be an addition, but an equivalent third vote. Three amplified instruments will build dense layers of drone, repetition and trance noise, sounding like a remnant of a cultural rite that we will not find on any map.

WCIAS finds experiment in tradition. Kromleh invents tradition in an experiment.

More information and details about the concert can be found on the Sacrum Profanum Festival 2026 website.

English version: To read the descriptions and find out more in English, please visit the Sacrum Profanum website

Concert Band Ritual

Ritual is the main band of concerts of this year's edition. Every day we bring together artists presenting their own version of the Ritual. They will reach into forgotten cultures and fading traditions, create fantastic ethnographies and contemporary forms that can put audiences in a trance. We will hear music from different parts of the world — from reconstructions of Wielkopolska folk, through Algonkin songs and Indian ragas, to a Japanese performance and a contemporary instrument derived from the ancient Greek aulos.

The ritual begins with crossing the threshold. Enter Si On and Jakub Ziółkowski's installation — a world of painted fabrics and humanoid figures, reminiscent of a ritual tent. It is a space dedicated to the hallowed time of the festival. It is also a sphere untangled between art and rite, in which the audience will sit around the central stage. Each day, two performances will be combined by the musical-ritual intervention of Ziółkowski, who will act as master of ceremonies for the duration of the concerts. Artists and music will change, but all parts of the Ritual will maintain the same uninterrupted course.

Artists

WCIAS — Cheers (2026) 30'

Karol Majerowski — Wielkopolskie bagpipes, trumpet, singing

Filip Majerowski — trombone, tuba, tenor saxhorn, horn, trumpet, vocals

Jakub Ziółkowski — ritual intervention 10'

Kromleh — new track (2026) 30' (world premiere)

Maciek — drums

Armor — Crank Lyre

Sylvester Sudnik — santur

https://wcias.bandcamp.com/track/wiwat

https://kromleh.bandcamp.com/album/na-komary

Organized by: KBF

The concert is co-organised by Cricoteka.

Accessibility

The event will last about 65—70 minutes and will take place without interruption. Two performances will be joined by a ten-minute intervention by Jakub Ziółkowski.

The audience will sit around the central stage on cushions, poufs and carpet. Several chairs will also be available for people who cannot sit on the floor or low seats.

Both performances will be amplified and based on long sounds, repetitions and overlapping layers of sound.

You can leave the event at any time, but there will be no possibility to re-enter the hall.

The nearest public transport stops are: Korona (tram and bus) and Plac Bohateros Getta (tram). Cricoteka does not have a car park for guests. Two parking spaces for people with disabilities are located on Nadwiślańska Street, near the entrance from the side of the Bernatka footbridge, but a high curb may be a difficulty when getting off. Upon prior notification of such a need, we can allocate a temporary parking space in the square.

The most convenient entrance to the building is through Cricoteki Square. After passing through the glass door, head to the elevator or staircase. The ticket office is located at level -1. Go to it if you do not have a ticket to the event or need additional information/assistance.

If you need more information or would like assistance, PJM translation, audio description, or have any other needs that we should know about so that you can feel comfortable, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator:

Anna Rejowska (e-mail: rejowska@cricoteka.pl, tel.: 505 319 882)

There is also the possibility of making an appointment.

For more information on accessibility, visit https://cricoteka.pl/pl/dostepnosc/