The meaning behind Mickiewicz’s “Great Improvisation,” the most famous part of his drama Forefather’s Eve, may be summed up in one sentence said by Konrad: “The fatherland and I are one.” This Romantic vision of the Polish identity, anchored in the history of the nation, led the protagonist to a feeling of profound solitude. It was also one of the inspirations for Włodek Pawlik, who composed a twelve-part musical illustration of Poland’s history. His cantata is a colourful piece woven of various sounds and moods: from R&B, pop and gospel, through blues and jazz, to forms referring to the greatest symphonic achievements of the 20th and 21st centuries.