The main intention of the conducted project was an attempt to bring closer a fragment of school daily life which covers the time of break between lessons and to recognise the meanings which are attributed by pupils to the school bell sound. The text presents results of my research, which illustrate the world of children’s meanings associated with the sound of the school bell – an inherent attribute of pupils’ daily life. What significance do they ascribe to the sound of the school bell? What does its sound really mean to them when it signals a beginning of another lesson and what when it starts a break? Such formulated questions specified the area of my empiric quests. These attempts of mine belong to the trend of research which on the one hand contributes to the fuller comprehension of childhood shown from the perspective of the very children, whereas on the other hand it may reveal senses and meanings which are given by children to the world that surrounds them.
The author reconstructed three phases in the life of a folk musician in Polish musical fairy-tales, namely his youth, maturity with a magic initiation, and old age which is filled with wandering and sharing knowledge and mastery with other people. In his youth, playing a pipe or a fiddle was a vocation. The musician is sensitive to sounds of nature, and his play evokes both admiration and disregard among peasants or highlanders. He plays for himself, for animals, birds, but also during weddings or in inns. Additional professions such as shepherd, soldier, sorcerer or master provide the musician contacts with the animal, human and supernatural worlds. A devil is frequently the musicians's helper: he gives the player an extraordinary instrument and provides him with a power which compels all present to dance. In return, the musician must promise the devil his own soul. The power of music enchants a girl who becomes the musician's wife. The musician's maturity is full of conflicts between family life and musical vocation. The old age of the musician is connected with the supernatural world and wisdom. However, the capability of enchanting with music is preserved and consciously practiced. The death of the musician often has a symbolic meaning. The article contains an index of fairy-tales and summaries of their content.
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