Lasoń, Aleksander

Lasoń, Aleksander, Polish composer, conductor, and teacher; b. Siemianowice, Ślaskie, Nov. 10, 1951. He studied jazz and popular music at the State Higher School of Music (later Academy of Music) in Katowice (1970–74), where he completed his training in composition with Józef Świder (honors degree, 1979). In 1980 he received the Beethoven Prize of the City of Bonn, and in 1987 and 1989 the Witold Lutostawski Scholarship Award. He became a prof. at the Cieszyn branch of the Silesian Univ. and at the Academy of Music in Katowice, where he was founder and conductor of the latter’s new music orch. (from 1996). In 2000 he was honored with the title of prof. of musical arts.

Works

orch.:Itnpresje (Impressions) for Piano and Orch. (Katowice, June 26, 1974); 3 syms.: No. 2 for Wind Instruments, Percussion, and 2 Pianos (1975; Katowice, Dec. 18, 1976), No. 2, Koncertujaca (Concertante) for Piano and Orch. (1977-79; Poznań, April 11, 1986), and No. 3, 1999 for Chorus and Orch. (1996-97; Kraków, Oct. 26, 1997); Góry (Mountains; 1979-80; Warsaw, Sept. 17, 1983); Concerto “Pablo Casals in memoriam” for Cello and Orch. (1985; Poznan, April 14, 1988); Katedra (Cathedral; 1987-89; Warsaw, Sept. 20, 1990); Hymn i aria for Strings (Mikotow, June 16, 1993); Concerto festivo for Violin and Orch. (1993-95; Kraków, Dec. 8, 1995); Credo (Poznań, Sept. 20, 1997). chamber: Violin Sonata (1970-71; Katowice, June 4, 1971); 2 sonatas for Solo Violin: No. 1 (1975; Warsaw, Feb. 28, 1978) and No. 2 (1983-84; Darmstadt, Oct. 3, 1985); Muzyka kameralna (Chamber Music) No. 1 for Piano and String Quartet (1974-78; Baranów Sandomierski, Sept. 8, 1979), No. 2 for Piano, 2 Horns, Trumpet, 2 Trombones, and Tuba (1976; Katowice, Jan. 17, 1977), No. 3 for Winds, Percussion, and Piano (Stalowa Wola, May 20, 1978), and No. 5 for Clarinet, Trombone, Piano, and Strings (1981; Poznań, April 1, 1989); Concerto for Piano and 3 Tapes (Stalowa Wola, May 18, 1976); Music in 4 Movements for Double Bass and Piano (Warsaw, Sept. 18, 1977); 3 string quartets: No. 1 (1979-80; Warsaw, Dec. 14, 1980), No. 2 (Warsaw, Sept. 21, 1987), and No. 3 (1992-93; Ontario, June 13, 1993); Wind Quintet, Wioseny (Spring; 1980-81; Poznań, April 5, 1981); Relief dia Andrzeja (Relief for Andrzej) for String Quartet (Katowice, Oct. 2, 1995); “2 plus 2” dia Witolda {“2 plus 2” for Witold) for Violin, Cello, and 2 Pianos (Katowice, March 3, 1997); “20 dia 4” (“20 for 4”) for String Quartet (Rybna, Dec. 13, 1998); Fanfary “50” (Fanfares “50”) for Chamber Ensemble (1999-2000; Warsaw, Jan. 21, 2000). vocal: Songs for Soprano and Piano (1973; Katowice, May 8, 1974); Muzyka u Szekspira (Music at Shakespeare’s) for Baritone and Tape (Katowice, May 21, 1975); 3 Songs for Alto, Oboe, Violin, Cello, and Piano, after Kazimiera Ittakowicz (Luslawice, Sept. 12, 1983); Musica Sacra—Sanctus for 4 Men’s Voices, Organ, and String Orch. (Skoczów, May 24, 1998).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire