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A female bugler to play Kraków hymn?

PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea 14.03.2015 14:39
The city of Kraków is set to announce a call for applications for a bugler to play the iconic hymn from the top of St. Mary church, and a female applicant is not excluded.
Not bad for an office! Photo: Wikimedia CommonsNot bad for an office! Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The applications will be announced in late October, and early November, the IAR news agency learnt.

And for the first time ever, women will be able to apply for the lofty position of playing the hymn on the hour every hour from the belfry of Kraków's iconic St. Mary's church.

Applicants will have to be tested for physical fitness and a test of their ability to play the trumpet.

“We do not discriminate against anyone. It is possible that the contest will be won by a woman,” the head of the Kraków Firefighters, Ryszard Gaczoł, told the agency.

The tradition of playing the bugle call from the tower of St Mary's was started seven hundred years ago. Polish Radio transmits the noon call on the airwaves.

Popular legend has it that a bugler in the tower was playing the hymn to alert the city of a Mongol invasion in the 13th century, but an archer managed to hit him in the throat, killing him instantly. This is why, to this day, the hymn is ended abruptly.

The two former players will soon go on a well-deserved retirement. (rg)

Source: IAR

tags: Kraków, st.mary
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