Franciszek Lilius (c. 1600-1657)

Franciszek Lilius was a descendent of the Italian family of the Giglis who made a considerable contribution to the musical culture of Warsaw. From Warsaw, where he was a member of the royal orchestra, he went to Krakow, assuming in 1630 the post of master of the cathedral orchestra. There, in Kraków, he spent the next 25 years of his life working as a composer, conductor and organiser of musical life. The extant works of Lilius comprise about 20 pieces, composed mostly in the prima prattica technique. The best among them include the Missa Brevissima, Missa tempore Paschali, and the motet Surrexit Christus Hodie.
Text supplied by Stephen Lloyd

The Lilius (Gigli) - Family was a family of musicians of Italian origin living in Poland.

Wincenty (Vincentius) Lilius / [Vincenzo Gigli] was born in Rome. He was a composer who was active in the archducal court at Graz (Austria) in the 1590s. From approx. 1600 until his death (around 1640, most probably Warsaw) he worked in King Sigismund III's chapel in Cracow and Warsaw. In Cracow he edited a collection of motets by members of the royal chapel. The collection dates from 1604 and contains polychoral works for 5 to 8 and 12 voices. One motet of his own is included, which is the 12-part piece Congratulamini mihi omnes.

Szymon Lilius, another member of the mentioned family, was an organist and organ builder connected with the court in Warsaw before 1622. At that time he settled in the nearby town Kazimierz Dolny, where he built the famous organ of said place. He seems to have died after 1652, possibly in Warsaw.
Text supplied by Monika Fahrnberger

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