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Trumpeter of Krakow
by: Karen Glass
St. Mary's is the largest and oldest church in Cracow. It is also associated with one of the oldest legends in Cracow. Every hour, after the clock chimes, a trumpeter plays a short, plaintive melody from the tower on the left of the picture. He plays the melody four times--to the east, north, west, and south. The last note is cut abruptly short.
According to legend, the walled city of Cracow was attacked by surprise. The trumpeter in the tower began to play a warning call, but was stopped mid-note by an enemy arrow in his throat. The hejnal (pronounced HEY-now) is played in his honor, because the city was roused in time to defeat the attackers. This legend is part of the plot in the Newbery Award winning book, "The Trumpeter of Krakow."
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