The heyday of the Polish Renaissance coincided with the reign of the last two rulers of the Jagiellonian dynasty: Zygmunt (Sigismund) the Old (1506-1548) and his son Zygmunt II August (1548-1572). Their court on Wawel Hill in the city of Krakow was the focus of the nation's artists, writers, poets and musicians, with the kings acting as generous patrons of their artistic endeavors.
Zygmunt August, in particular, bestowed friendship on many Renaissance writers.  The circle of this intelligent, excellently educated and well mannered king included the writers Jan Kochanowski and Lukasz Gornicki, the political thinker Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski and the humanist and politician Zamoyski.  The Royal Chapel was active at the court and the most prominent Polish composers of the time were associated with Wawel Castle.  Music (partly thanks the the vital development of the Krakow Academy) was an inseparable part of the life at the court.   And it was Zygmunt August who encouraged the talents of two of the most distinguished Polish Renaissance composers.  They were Waclaw of Szamotuly (died c. 1560) and Marcin Leopolita d. 1589).  Both are composers of truly European rank, with a musical legacy of great artistic calibre.

Selections:
1. Waclaw z Szamotul (ca. 1520 - ca. 1560): Modlitwy - Modlitwa, gdy dziatki spac ida  
2. Waclaw z Szamotul (ca. 1520 - ca. 1560): Modlitwy - Kryste, dniu naszej swiatlosci  
3. Waclaw z Szamotul (ca. 1520 - ca. 1560): Modlitwy - Piesn o narodzeniu Panskim  
4. Waclaw z Szamotul (ca. 1520 - ca. 1560): Modlitwy - Naklon, Panie, ku mnie ucho Twoje (Psalm LXXXV)  
5. Waclaw z Szamotul (ca. 1520 - ca. 1560): Modlitwy - Blogoslawiony czlowiek (Psalm I)    
6. Waclaw z Szamotul (ca. 1520 - ca. 1560): Modlitwy - Powszednia spowiedz  
7. Waclaw z Szamotul (ca. 1520 - ca. 1560): Modlitwy - Alleluja. Chwalcie Pana Boga (Psalm CXVI)  
8. Waclaw z Szamotul (ca. 1520 - ca. 1560): Motety - Ego sum Pastor bonus  
9. Waclaw z Szamotul (ca. 1520 - ca. 1560): Motety - Nunc scio vere  
10. Marcin Leopolita (? - 1589): Missa Paschalis - Kyrie  
11. Marcin Leopolita (? - 1589): Missa Paschalis - Gloria  
12. Marcin Leopolita (? - 1589): Missa Paschalis - Credo  
13. Marcin Leopolita (? - 1589): Missa Paschalis - Sanctus. Benedictus  
14. Marcin Leopolita (? - 1589): Missa Paschalis - Agnus Dei