„Oto znika jednostka, zatraca się i budzi całość, wielkość i potęga” (O pieśniach polskich Sokołów przed odzyskaniem niepodległości)

The article is an attempt at analysing ‘Falcon’ hymns dated to the period before 1918. Some research difficulties (lack of research papers, chronological expansiveness, or mass culture affiliation) have been pointed out. Not only the role of a song-book is highlighted (in its numerous editions), but also other forms of those publications (i.e. in the Gymnastic Hand- book ”Falcon”), as well as the activity of impressive music societies in that period. Questions are asked about: the role and aim of those hymns; connections with the ideology of the Gymnastic Society ‘Falcon’; connections with national hymns, or the type of affiliation. The author mentions numerous examples of hyms, which have been present in Polish music tradition ever since.