Henryk Górecki

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Henryk Górecki at work in his studio

Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, born December 6, 1933 in in the town of Czernica in Silesia, Poland, is a composer of classical music. Though his earlier work in the late 1950's and 1960's were characterised by a dissonant modernism influenced by Nono, Stockhausen and contemporaries Penderecki and Serocki, he moved in the mid 1970's towards a 'pure' sacred minimalist sound encapsulated by the 1976 3rd Symphony. Gorecki has since progressed through several distinct styles, from the reverence of Beatus Vir (1979), to the meditative Miserere (1981), to the spiritualism of Good Night (1990).

He is married to pianist Jadwiga Ruranska and has two children - Anna, also a pianist, and Mikolaj, a composer.

Contents

1 Biography
2 Style
3 Selected Works
4 External links

Biography

Attending the Katowice State Higher School of Music from 1952, Gorecki studied under the composer Bolesłav Szabelski, a former student of Karol Szymanowski. His first public performances was held in Katowice in February 1958, and showed clear influence from both Szymanowski and Bartók. By 1961 he had progressed to the modernism of Webern, Xenakis and Boulez and was at the forefrunt of the Polish avant garde, with his Symphony No.1 gaining international acclaim at the Paris Biennial Festival of Youth.

While continuing his studies in Paris, Górecki was influenced by contemporary composers such as Anton Webern, Olivier Messiaen and Karlheinz Stockhausen, composers which were at the time suppressed by the Polish government.

In 1975 Górecki was appointed Professor of Composition at the State Higher School of Music in Katowice, but resigned his post in 1979, in protest against the government's refusal to allow Pope John Paul II to visit the city.

Style

Górecki's music covers a variety of styles, but tends towards relative harmonic and rhythmical simplicity. His first works were in the avant-garde style of Pierre Boulez and other serialists, but his later music is more often compared to minimalism, often being labelled “holy minimalism”. Like Arvo Pärt and John Tavener, his works often reflect his religious beliefs (Górecki is a Catholic).

Górecki's most popular piece is his Third Symphony, subtitled Symphony of Sorrowful Songs (Symfonia pieśni żałosnych). Slow and contemplative, the three movements are composed for orchestra and solo soprano. The words of the first movement are from a 15th century lament; the words of the second from a teenage girl, Helena Błażusiak, written on the wall of a Gestapo prison cell in Zakopane and invoke the protections of the Virgin Mary; the third movement is a folk song.

Selected Works

Four Preludes, Op. 1, (Piano), 1955
Three Songs, Op. 3, 1956
Sonata for Piano, Op. 6, (Violins), 1956
Songs for Joy and Rythm, Op.7, 1956
Sonata, Op. 10, 1957
Epitafium, Op. 12, (Choir and Instrumental), 1958
Symphony No. 1, Op. 14, (Strings and Percussion), 1959
Monologhi, Op. 16, (Soprano and three instrumental groups), 1960
Three Pieces in an Old Style, (String Orchestra), 1963
Genesis III, Op. 19, 1963
Choros I, Op. 20, (String Orchestra), 1963
Cantata for organ, Op. 26, 1968
Ad Matrem, Op. 29, 1971
Two Sacred Songs, Op. 30, 1971
Symphony No. 2 'Copernican', Op. 31, 1972
Amen, Op 34, 1975
Symphony No. 3 'Symphony of Sorrowful Songs', Op. 36, 1976
Beatus Vir, Op. 38, (Baritone, Choir and Orchestra), 1979
Miserere, Op. 44, (Choir a Cappella), 1981
O Domina Nostra, 1985
Totus Tuus, Op. 60, 1987
Good Night, Op. 63, 1990
Male Requiem Dla Pewnej Polki, Op 66, (Piano and Instruments), 1993
Niech Nam Zyja I Spiewaja, (Choir), 2000

External links

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