from Żywiec, born in 1929

He was born on May 10, 1929 in Żywiec. After the occupation, he took up studies at the secondary trade school, in which, under the direction of Julian Reimschüssla, he played in the Beskid themes: "Fern flower", "Call of mountains", "Highlanders' courtship" and "Highlander nativity play". At the same time, he studied at the elementary music school in Żywiec. In 1949 he began to attend the State Music School in Bielsko and at the same time studied at the University of Economics in Katowice. In 1953 he was employed as a piano teacher at a Bielsko-Biała school, with which he was associated until 1989.

In 1960, he began working with the Regional Song and Dance Group Pilsko. First, he was an accompanist and musician, and in 1962, after concerts in Zakopane, he founded a band that was initially supported by outstanding instrumentalists from the Koniakow band – Zuzanna Kawulok and Jan Kukuczka. In the first band, Stanisław Lach played the trumpet, Józef Michura the clarinet, Leszek Orecki the violin and bass Otto Gach.

After a four-year break, Tadeusz Maślanka returned to the band in 1967, not only as a music director, but also as an artistic director. Then, for one season (1969/1970) he worked in the State Song and Dance Ensemble Silesia. Together with Józef Maślanka, he developed the Zywiec highlanders' program and independent materials for the urban part of Żywiec. Based on them, the choreography was prepared by Elwira Kamińska, and the music – like the stylized part of the highlander – was developed by Wojciech Kilar.

In 1974, after a four-year stay in the USA, Tadeusz Maślanka returned to Pilsko and ran it until 1996. Under his musical and later artistic direction, the band achieved their greatest successes, won many awards and distinctions, among them were Gold and Silver Ciupaga at the International Festival of Mountain Folklore in Zakopane, Złoty Kilof Górniczy in Bytom, and the Silver Tower in Kazimierz on the Vistula.

Tadeusz Maślanka recreated many forgotten dances and melodies of Żywiec highlanders, enriching the band's repertoire with songs and melodies written during the field studies (conducted before the work in Pilsko). He managed – together with Feliks Jankowski – to get into the band of great, authentic instrumentalists, and to the band excellent singers with white voices; he also introduced thrombites. It was he who prepared the "Ball of Żywiec residents" with head coach Jerzy Zeman.

In 1982, together with Maria Zuziak, co-author of all the programs, two-part "Highlander's Nativity" (herodic part and part near the stable were presented for the first time during martial law in West Berlin); in 1983 a part of the shepherds was created. The show was filmed by the Polish Television in Warsaw. He also played in the city band on the accordion, and in the highlander on the trombone and pipe.

Tadeusz Maślanka was honored with the Silver Cross of Merit, badges of the Meritorious Cultural Activist, Meritorious for the Cepelia, Meritorious for Polonia, Meritorious for the Bielsko Province and the medal for the merits for the city of Zywiec. He got the Oskar Kolberg Award in 1966.