Rudziński, Witold

Rudziński, Witold Polish composer and pedagogue; b. Sebezh, Lithuania, March 14, 1913. He studied composition with Tadeusz Szeligowski and piano with Stanislaw Szpinalski at the Cons., and Slavonic philology at the Stefan Batory Univ. (graduated, 1936) in Vilnius. In 1938–39 he completed his training in composition with Nadia Boulanger and Charles Koechlin in Paris, where he also studied Dom André Mocquereau’s theory of rhythm at the Gregorian Inst. From 1939 to 1942 he was prof. of theory at the Vilnius Cons. After residing in Warsaw (1943–5), he was a prof. at the Lodz Cons. (1945–47). He then returned to Warsaw and served as director of the music dept. of the Ministry of Culture and Art (1947–48) and of the State Phil, and Central Opera (1948–49). In 1957 he became a lecturer in composition and theory at the State Higher School of Music, where he also was vice-rector (1967–69). In 1965 he won 1^st prize in the Grieg Competition for Composers in Bergen. He received various Polish state honors and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Warsaw Academy of Music in 1998. Among his important Writings are a monograph on Moniuszko (Krakow, 1954), Warsztat kompozytorski Beli Bartóka (The Composing Technique of Bela Bartók; Krakow, 1964), and Nauka o rytmie muzycznym (The Study of Musical Rhythm; Kraków, 1987).

Works

DRAMATIC: Janko muzykant (Janko the Fiddler), opera (1951; Bytom, June 20, 1953); Komendant Paryia Qaroslaw Dqbrowski) (The Commandant of Paris [Jarostaw Dabrowski]), opera (1958; Poznań, March 27, 1960); Odprawa postów greckich (The Dismissal of the Greek Envoys), opera (1962; Kraków, Nov. 14, 1966); Sulamita, opera (1964); Żótta szlafmyca (The Yellow Nightcap), comic opera (1969; Gdynia, Jan. 25, 1970); Chtopi (The Peasants), opera (1972; Warsaw, June 30, 1974); Pierścień i róża (The Ring and the Rose), children’s opera (1982; Wroclaw, Oct. 13, 1984); Jakub i Rachel (Jacob and Rachel), ballet (1991). ORCH.: Piano Concerto (1936; rev. 1947); 2 syms. (1938, 1944); Divertimento for Strings (1940); Parady (Parades), suite (1958); Muzyka koncertujqca (Musique concertante) for Piano and Chamber Orch. (1958; Warsaw, Sept. 20, 1961); Obrazy Świetokrzyskie (Pictures from the Holy Cross Mountains; 1965); Moniuszkiana, suite (1965); Concerto Grosso for Percussion and 2 String Orchs. (1970; also for Percussion and 2 Pianos, 1992); Uivertura góralska (Highlander Overture; 1970); Capriccio-Impromptu-Hommage à Bizet for Violin and Small Orch. (1986; also for Violin and Piano, 1980). CHAMBER: lute Sonatina (1934); Viola Sonata (1946); Nonet (Prague, May 1947); Quintet with Flute (1954; Warsaw, Feb. 1955); Wariacje i fuga (Variations and Fugue) for Percussion (1966); Preludia for Clarinet, Viola, Harp, and Percussion (1967; Warsaw, May 26, 1969); Largo, aria e toccata for Harp (1968; Warsaw, May 26, 1969); Burleska for Clarinet and Piano (1969); Polonaise-rapsodie for Cello and Piano (1969; Warsaw, April 29, 1970); Fantazja góralska (Highlander Fantasia) for Guitar (1970); Sonata pastorale for Violin and Piano (1978); Capriccio-Impromptu-Hommage à Bizet for Violin and Piano (1980; also for Violin and Small Orch., 1986); Ricercar sopra “Roman Lasocki” for Violin (1981; Barcelona, Dec. 9, 1982); Pobudka (Reveille) for 4 Violins (1985); Dialog, alto saxophone sonata (1987); Plejadi/ (Pleiades), clarinet sonata (1987; Warsaw, March 9, 1988); Kasjopea (Cassiope), violin sonata (1987); Concerto grosso for Percussion and 2 Pianos (1992; also for Percussion and 2 String Orchs., 1970); Serenata for Violin, Viola, and Cello (1993); Etude-Fantaisie for Flute and Piano (1994); Capriccio for Clarinet (1995); Passacaglia for Violin (1996). KEYBOARD: Piano: Suita polska (Polish Suite; 1950); Quasi una sonata (1975). Harpsichord: Sonata (1977–78). Clavichord: Proverbia latina (1974). VOCAL: Ballada o fanosiku (Ballad of Janosik) for Voice and Piano (1941; also for Chorus and Small Orch., 1955); Pieć lat (Five Years) for Chorus (1945); 7 Folk Songs for Chorus (1945); Pieśni kurpiowskie (Songs from Kurpie) for Chorus or 2 Solo Voices and Small Orch. (1947); Chlopska droga (Peasants’s Road), cantata for Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1952; Bydoszcz, May 1, 1953); Przewodnik liryczny po Warszawie (A Lyrical Guide to Warsaw) for Soprano and Piano (Warsaw, Nov. 1953); Deux portraits des femmes for Soprano and String Quartet (1960; Warsaw, May 1961); Dach świata (The Roof of the World) for Reciter and Orch. (1960; Warsaw, May 1961); Gaude Mater Polonia for Reciter, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Chorus, and Orch. (Warsaw, Oct. 7, 1966); Lipce for Chorus and Orch. (1968); Do obywatela Johna Browna (To the Citizen John Brown), concertino for Soprano, Flute, Horn, Cello, Piano, and Percussion (1972); Gdziekolunek ziemia jest snem (Wherever the Earth is a Dream) for Soprano and Piano (1975); Chleba powszedniego (Our Daily Bread), motet for Man’s Voice, Chorus, and Organ (1987); Trzy pieśni starohebrajskie (Three Old Hebrew Songs) for Voice and Piano (1987); W kregu psalmów (The Circle of Psalms) for Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Boy’s Chorus, 2 Mixed Choruses, and 6 Percussion Groups (1987; Wroclaw, Sept. 3, 1990); Trzy liturgie etiopskie (Three Ethiopian Liturgies) for 6 Men’s Voices (Warsaw, July 1988); Gadanki-piewanki (Speaking-Singing) for Speaking Chorus (1989); Madonna, 5 songs for Soprano, Flute or Clarinet ad libitum, and Piano (1991); Psalmus VI “Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me” for 5 Voices or Chorus and Organ (1992); Slowa Panny Maryji (The Words of the Virgin Mary) for Chorus and Small Orch. (1992); Litania Ostrobramska (Litany to the Holy Virgin of Ostra Brama) for Soprano, 2 Trumpets, 4 Timpani, and Organ (1994).

Bibliography

L. Bielawski and H. Kowalczyk, eds., W. R. ω 80-lecie urodzin (Studies Presented to W. R. on the Occasion of his 80^th Birthday; Warsaw, 1993).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire