The Olsztyn hymn was composed in 1920 by Feliks Nowowiejski and performed for the first time on 2 June of the same year at the plebiscite concert. The text of the “Warmian Hymn” – as it is properly called – was published in “Gazeta Olsztyńska” on 18 May 1920. It was stated that the author of the hymn was the Poznań poet Maria Paruszewska. Its opening lines sounded “O Warmio moja miła” (“Oh, My Beloved Warmia”). In 1969 the musicologist Jan Boehm proved that  the present form of the hymn text was a result of co-operation of Władysław Bełza, Maria Paruszewska and the composer’s  brother, Rudolf Nowowiejski.

It was, however, 25 years later – at noon on 28 October 1947 – that the hymn was performed on the trumpet from the tower of the city hall by a firefighter. Unfortunately, that tradition disappeared as the official municipal fire service dismissed a full-time trumpeter and there were no candidates to take up the service as a part-time job. The inhabitants of Olsztyn heard the tune of the “Warmian Hymn” again on 22 January 1969 – this time played by chimes. Since then it has been performed every day at noon. Later on the chimes were replaced with an electronic device – the steering clock and amplifiers were donated by the Olsztyn craftsmen. The hymn can be also heard at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

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