Hawel, Jan Wincenty
Hawel, Jan Wincenty
Hawel, Jan Wincenty, Polish composer, conductor, and pedagogue; b. Pszów, July 10, 1936. He studied >music education (degree, 1960), composition with Bolestaw Szabelski (degree, 1964), and conducting with Karol Stryja (degree, 1967) at the State Higher School of Music in Katowice. He then joined its faculty as a teacherof composition and conducting, and from 1981 to 1987 and again from 1990 served as rector. In 1981 he founded the Silesian Chamber Orch., which he subsequently served as artistic director and conductor. His compositions have won various prizes, including 1st prize in the Artur Malawski Competition in 1970, 1st prize in the Grzegorz Fitelberg Competition and in the Opole Spring Competition in 1972, and 1st prize in the National Competition in Warsaw in 1981.
Works
ORCH.: 7 syms.: No. 1 (1962), No. 2 (n.d.), No. 3 (1974; Rzeszów, June 16, 1979), No. 4 (1976–77), No. 5 (1978; Katowice, March 14, 1979), No. 6 (n.d.), and No. 7, Musica sacra for Voice, Chorus, and Orch. (1990–91); Kontrasty (Contrasts; 1964; Wroclaw, Nov. 14, 1965); Konstrukcje (Constructions; 1965); Sinfonia concertante No. 2 for Organ and Orch. (1972) and No. 6 for Piano and Orch. (1979; Katowice, April 29, 1983); Piesn o radosci (Song About Joy) for 2 Wind Orchs. and Percussion (Warsaw, July 6, 1980); Medytacje wielkanocne (Eastern Meditations) for Strings (1983); Odglosy lata for Oboe and/or English Horn and Strings (1985–86); Concertino for Harpsichordor Piano and Strings (1985); Violin Concerto (1986–87); Moments musicaux forStrings (1988); Tatra s Landscape for Strings (1993). CHAMBER: 6 string quartets: No. 1 (1959), No. 2 (1971–72), No. 3 (1980; Krakόw, April 4, 1981), No. 4 (1982; Krakόw, Dec. 15, 1983), No. 5 (1985), and No. 6, Requiem (1991; Wroclaw, Feb. 26, 1992); 2 Pieces for Chamber Ensemble (1959–60); Wind Septet (1960); Radosne piesni (Joyful Songs) for 14 Instruments (1963); Divertimento for Trombone, Piano, and Percussion (1968); Capriccio-Fantasia No. 1 for Double Bass (1970) and No. 3, Kyrie eleison for Violin (1996); Preludium for Double Bass (1975; Katowice, May 23, 1979); Interludium for Double Bass (1976; Katowice, May 23, 1979); Sonata for Solo Violin (1976; Katowice, April 5, 1978); Musica concertante for 6 Players (1976; Krakow, Dec. 15, 1977); Concertino for Harpsichord and 2 String Quartets (1978); Concerto for Solo Guitar (1978; Katowice, Feb. 27, 1980); Sonata morska (Sea Sonata) for Cello (1979; Katowice, May 20, 1980); Tryptyk for Amplified Harpsichord and Piano (1980); Canto “Gaudeamus omnes” for String Quartet (1998). keyboard: piano:Variazioni (1968); Witrae (Stained Glass Windows; 1972); Capriccio-Fantasia No. 2 for 2 Pianos (1975; Stupsk, Sept. 8, 1976); Rapsodia “Gloria” (1997). organ:Studium (1967); Passacaglia (1968; Katowice, March 24, 1977). harpsichord:Partita (1979; Krakόw, Aug. 30, 1981). VOCAL: Profile for Men’s Chorus and Orch. (1962); Impresje leène (Woodland Impression), oratorio for Reciter, Chorus, and Orch. (1969); Magnificat for Vocal Ensemble and Orch. (1974; Poznań, March 30, 1989); Barwy dnia—Trzy zdarzenia muzyczne (Colors of the Day—Three Musical Happenings) for 2 Soloists, Flute, Cello, Harpsichord, and Tape (1978); Hymnus for Chorus and Winds (Katowice, Dec. 18, 1980); Vocal Concerto (1981; Katowice, March 27, 1984); 3 Poemsfor Voice and Instrumental Ensemble, after Milosz (1981); Oratorium polski (Polish Oratorio) for Soloists, Reciter, 2 Choruses, and Orch. (1981; Katowice, April 29, 1983); Missa pro pace for Chorus (1982–83); Threnody for Chorus(1986-87); Cztery pierwsze pieśni (Four First Songs) for Voice and Orch. (1991); 3 Poems for Voice and Chamber Orch. (1992); Vesper Psalms for Soloist, Chorus, and Orch. (1994); Psalm—Laudate Dominum for Voice, Chorus, and Orch. (1995); various choruses.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire