Łuciuk, Juliusz (Mieczyslaw)

Łuciuk, Juliusz (Mieczyslaw), Polish composer; b. Brźeznica, Jan. 1, 1927. He studied in Kraków at the Jagiellonian Univ. (graduated in musicology, 1952) and at the State Higher School of Music (diplomas in theory, 1955, and composition, 1956). After further training in composition with Boulanger and Deutsch in Paris (1958–59), he returned to Poland and devoted himself to composition. In 1974 he won first prize in the Monaco competition. He received the Golden Cross of Merit of Poland in 1975. In 1983 he was awarded the prize of the City of Kraków. He received the Minister of Culture and Arts Award in 1995. In 1998 he was honored with the Polish Composers’ Union Award. In his extensive output, Luciuk followed a sui generis compositional path.

Works

dramatic: Niobe, ballet (1962; Gdańsk, May 20, 1967); The Frock, mimodrama (Wroclaw, Oct. 25, 1965); Brand-Peer Gynt, mimodrama (Oslo, Sept. 28,1967); The Death of Euridice, ballet (1972; Polish TV, Warsaw, Dec. 27,1974); When 5 Years Will Go By: The Legend of Time, choreodrama (Amsterdam, Oct. 9, 1972); L’Amour d’Orphée, opera (1973; Wroclaw, Feb. 22, 1980); Medea, ballet (Poznań, Oct. 26, 1975); Demiurgos, opera (1976; Kraków, April 26, 1990). orch.:4 Symphonic Sketches(1957); Symphonic Allegro (1958; Katowice, June 9, 1959); Composition for 4 Orchs. (1960; Wroclaw, Nov. 14, 1965); Speranza Sinfonica (1969; Czestochowa, June 17, 1972); Lamentazioni in memoriam Grazyna Bacewicz (1970; Czestochowa, March 4,1971); Warsaw Legend: Quasi Cradle-Song(1974; Warsaw, Jan. 10,1976); Double Bass Concerto (Kraków, June 10, 1986); Hommage a quelque’un for Guitar and Strings (Hannover, Aug. 28, 1993). chamber:Capriccio for Violin and Piano (Warsaw, June 27, 1956); Clarinet Sonata (1956); Bassoon Sonata (1956; Kraków, Nov. 17, 1958); Variations for Cello and Piano (1980; Kraków, April 5, 1982); 3 Miniatures for Violin and Piano (Kraków, May 25, 1984); Ballata for Guitar (1990; Kraków, April 30, 1991). keyboard: piano:4 Miniatures(1957; Kraków, March 19, 1962); Arabesque No. 2 for 2 Pianos (1987; Kraków, Feb. 12, 1989). Prepared Piano: Marathon(1963; Warsaw, Sept. 21, 1964); Lirica di Timbri(1963; Kraków, Dec. 16, 1964); Pacem in terris for 2 Players and Soprano (Poznań, May 29, 1964); Passacaglia(Kolonia Radio, April 3, 1968). organ:Image(1977; Poznań, April 17, 1978); Marienpräludiem(1982; Kraków, June 6, 1983); Tripticum Paschale(1993; Kraków, May 22, 1994). vocal:The Latin Mass for Men’s Chorus and Organ (1958); Floral Dream for Voice and Orch. (1960; Wenecja, April 25, 1961); Pour un Ensemble for Speaking Voice and 24 Strings (1961; Utrecht, Sept. 13, 1962); Tool of the Light for Baritone and Orch. (1966; Wroclaw, Jan. 21,1968); Poeme de Loire for Soprano and Orch. (1968; Wroclaw, Feb. 21,1970); Le Souffle du Vent for Baritone and Orch. (Polish TV, Warsaw, Aug. 21, 1971); Wings and Hands for Baritone and Orch. (1972; Poznan, April 3, 1975); Missa Gratiarum Actione for Women’s Chorus (Warsaw, Sept. 22,1974); Portraits lyriques for Soprano and Orch. (1974; Posnań, April 5, 1976); Si. Francis of Assisi, oratorio for Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (Kraków, Oct. 3, 1976); Hymnus de Cantate for Chorus (1976; Poznań, April 7, 1981); 4 Antiphonae for Men’s Chorus (1980–84; Aachen, Dec. 16, 1984); Manen Suita for Chorus (1983; Warsaw, Nov. 21, 1984); Polish Litany, oratorio for Soloists, Chorus, and String Orch. (1984; Częstochowa, Jan. 27,1985); Apocalypsis for Chorus (1985; Poznań, April 28, 1987); Partes Variables for Women’s Chorus (1985; Kraków, May 13, 1986); Assumpta est Maria for Women’s Chorus (1987; Czestochowa, Nov. 17,1989); Vesperae in Assumptione Beatae Mariae Virginis for Women’s Chorus (1987–89; Aachen, June 9, 1989); Magnificat for Chorus (Częstochowa, May 4, 1991); Antiphone ex Secundis Vesperis in Assumptione Beatae Mariae Virginis for Chorus (1992); The Polish Mass for Mezzo-soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (Częstochowa, May 1, 1993); Gesang am Brunnen, oratorio for Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Chorus, and Chamber Orch. (Hannover, Aug. 17,1996); Sanctus Adalbertus Flos Purpureus for Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (Częstochowa, May 1, 1997); Jubilee Cantata for Soprano, Tenor, and Wind Orch. (Warsaw, Nov. 11, 1998); Litany to the Virgin Mary of Supraśl for Alto, Chorus, and Chamber Orch. (Kraków, May 30, 1999). other: Children’s pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire