Szymánski, Pawel

Szymánski, Pawel, Polish composer; b. Warsaw, March 28, 1954. He studied composition with Wtodz-imierz Kotoñski (1974-78) and Tadeusz Baird (1978) at the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw, from which he graduated with honors. After attending the summer courses in new music in Darmstadt (1978, 1980, 1982), he pursued training in Vienna with Roman Haubenstock-Ramati (1984-85). In 1987-88 he worked at the electronic studio of the Technical Univ. in Berlin under the auspices of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst. In 1979 he won first prize in the Young Composers’ Competition of the Polish Composers’ Union, in 1988 he was co-winner in the Benjamin Britten Composers’ Competition in Aldeburgh, in 1993 he received the Polish Composers’ Union Award, and in 1995 he was awarded the principal prize of the International Polish Music Foundation competition.

Works

Epitafium (Epitaph) for 2 Pianos (Warsaw, April 19, 1974); String Quartet (Warsaw, May 10, 1975); Limeryki (Limericks) I for Violin and Harpsichord (1975; Warsaw, May 10, 1976) and 17 for Flute, Violin, and Cello (1979; Darmstadt, Aug. 2, 1980); Partita I for Orch. (1976), II for Orch. (1977-78; Opole, Feb. 15, 1981), III for Amplified Harpsichord and Orch. (1985-86; Warsaw, Sept. 28, 1986), and IV for Orch. (1986; Belfast, April 24, 1987); Kyrie for Boy’s Chorus and Orch. (1977; Warsaw, Feb. 17, 1978); Intermezzo for 2 Flutes, Percussion, 4 Violins, 3 Violas, 2 Cellos, and Double Bass (1977; Warsaw, Jan. 22, 1979); 10 Pieces for String Trio (Baranów Sandomierski, Sept. 6, 1979); Gloria for Women’s Chorus and Instrumental Ensemble (Warsaw, Sept. 16, 1979); La folia for Tape (1979); ...under the plane tree for Tape (1980); 4 Liturgical Pieces for Soprano and Orch. (1981-82; Poznan, April 11, 1986); Villanelle for Countertenor, 2 Violas, and Harpsichord (1981; Luslawice, Sept. 12, 1983); Sonata for Strings and Percussion (Warsaw, Dec. 15, 1982); 2 Pieces for String Quartet (1982; Zakopane, Oct. 1, 1983); Appendix for Piccolo and Chamber Ensemble (1983); Dzvie konstrukcje iluzoryczne (Two Illusory Constructions) for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (Lerchenborg, July 28, 1984); Lux aeterna for Voices and Instruments (1984; Warsaw, Sept. 26, 1985); Trop (Trope) for Piano (1986; Lerchenborg, Aug. 5, 1990); 2 Studies for Piano (1986; Warsaw, Sept. 15, 1990); Through the Looking Glass.J for Chamber Orch. (1987), // for Tape (1988), and III for Harpsichord (1994; Paris, Jan. 11, 1995; also for Harpsichord and String Quartet, 1994); A Study of Shade for Small Orch. (Aldeburgh, June 12, 1989; also for Orch., 1992; Warsaw, Sept. 15, 1994); A Kaleidoscope for M.C.E. for Cello (1989; Wroclaw, Feb. 24, 1990; also for Violin 1994; Warsaw, Sept. 22, 1997); Fuga for Piano (Lerchenborg, Aug. 3, 1990); quasi una sinfonietta for Chamber Orch. (London, Nov. 6, 1990); Sixty- Odd Pages for Chamber Orch. (Warsaw, Sept. 22, 1991); A due for 2 Violins (1992); 2 Studies for Orch. (1992); 5 Pieces for String Quartet (1992; Warsaw, Sept. 24, 1993); Miserere for Voices and Instruments (Warsaw, March 28, 1993); 3 Pieces for 3 Recorders and Metronome (Basel, Sept. 18, 1993); 2 Preludes for Piano (1994); Piano Concerto (1994; Paris, Feb. 12, 1995); Muzyka filmowa (Film Music) for Orch. (1994-96); SONAT(IN)A for Piano (Warsaw, May 12, 1995); In Paradisum for Men’s Chorus (Sendai, Aug. 12, 1995); 2 Melodies for Piano (Budapest, Oct. 1, 1995); Bagatelle für A. W. for Violin, Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, and Piano (Bratislava, Nov. 15, 1995); Recalling a Serenade for Clarinet, 2 Violins, Viola, and Cello (Kuhmo, July 24, 1996).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire