(b. 11 August 1943, Kraków).
Polish composer, now resident in Germany, of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been performed throughout the world; he is also active as a writer.
Mr. Meyer began lessons in piano at age five and studied composition and music theory privately with Stanisław Wiechowicz in Kraków from 1954–63. He then studied music theory with Aleksander Frączkiewicz at the Academy of Music in Kraków from 1962–66, where he also studied composition with Krzysztof Penderecki from 1963–65 and earned two diplomas with distinction. In addition, he had lessons in composition and piano with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in 1964, 1966 and 1968.
Among his honours are two prizes in the competition Fitelberg (honourable mention, 1967, for Symphony No. 2, 'Epitaphium Stanisław Wiechowicz in memoriam', Op. 14; First Prize, 1968, for Symphony No. 3, 'Symphonie d'Orphée', Op. 20), the Prix Prince-Pierre-de-Monaco (1970, for Cyberiada – The Cyberiad, Op. 15), the Award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage (1973, 1975), First Prize in the competition Karol Szymanowski in Warsaw (1974, for Symphony No. 4, Op. 31), two medals from the government of Brazil (1975, for String Quartet No. 4, Op. 33; 1977, for Concerto retro, Op. 39), the Herder-Preis in Vienna (1984), the Prize of the Związek Kompozytorów Polskich – Polish Composers Union in Warsaw (1992), the Prize of the Alfred Jurzykowski Foundation in New York, New York (1994), the Johann-Stamitz-Preis in Mannheim (1996), one class of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2003), the Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande from the government of Germany (2007), the Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland (2011), and the Glinka Medal in Moscow (2012). He has been a member of the Freie Akademie der Künste Rhein-Neckar in Mannheim since 1988. He is the subject of the books Krzysztof Meyer – Do i od kompozytora (1994, edited by Maciej Jabłoński and Martina Homma, Edition Ars Nova; German version as Krzysztof Meyer – Ein Komponistenportrait, 1998, Bela Verlag Köln) and Musica incrostata by Thomas Weselmann (2003, Poznańskie Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk – Poznań Society of Friends of Learning).
As a writer, he has contributed articles to numerous publications on contemporary music and wrote the first monograph in Poland on Dmitri Shostakovich (1973, expanded as Schostakowitsch, Sein Leben, sein Werk, seine Zeit, 1994, with subsequent translations [Dutch, French, German, Polish, Russian, and Spanish], 1994–99). He also wrote a biography of Witold Lutosławski in two volumes, Droga do doskonałości and Droga do mistrzostwa (2003–04, with his wife, the musicologist Danuta Gwizdalanka, PWM).
He is also active in other positions. He performed as pianist of the ensemble for contemporary music MW 2 from 1965–67 and later served as president of the Związek Kompozytorów Polskich from 1985–89.
He taught analysis, counterpoint, music history, and music theory at the Academy of Music in Kraków from 1966–87 and lectured on composition at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne from 1987–2008.
In addition to the works listed below, he has composed scores for several films and stage productions.
His primary publisher is the Internationale Musikverlage Hans Sikorski.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
Cyberiada (opera in 3 acts, libretto by the composer [German version by Jörg Morgener], after Stanisław Lem), coloratura soprano, soprano, 2 mezzo-sopranos, alto, 3 tenors, 2 baritones, 2 basses, basso profondo, 3 speakers, mixed chorus, 3 male choruses, dance troupe, large orchestra (12 winds, 12 brass, harp, piano, celesta, harmonium, 5 percussion, 34 strings), Op. 15, 1967–70, revised 1985
Hrabina – The Countess (ballet in 1 act, after opera by Stanisław Moniuszko), Op. 49, 1980 (lost)
Klonowi bracia – The Maple Brothers (opera for children in 2 acts, libretto by the composer, after Evgeny Schwartz), Op. 72, 1988–89
ORCHESTRAL:
Concerto da camera No. 1, flute, orchestra (6 percussion, 36 strings), Op. 6, 1964
Symphony No. 1, large orchestra, Op. 10, 1964, revised 1966
Concerto No. 1, violin, orchestra (8 winds, 2 trumpets, piano, 4 percussion, strings), Op. 12, 1965
Concerto da camera No. 2, oboe, orchestra (4 percussion, 40 strings), Op. 29, 1972
Symphony No. 4, large orchestra (89 players), Op. 31, 1973
Concerto, trumpet, large orchestra (61 players), Op. 35, 1975
Fireballs, large orchestra (12 brass, 6 percussion, 48 strings), Op. 37, 1976
Symphony in D in the Style of Mozart, Op. 41, 1976–77
Symphony No. 5, 15 strings, Op. 44, 1978–79
Concerto, piano, orchestra, Op. 46, 1979, revised 1989
March, symphonic band, Op. 47, 1979
Symphony No. 6, 'Polish Symphony', large orchestra (80 players), Op. 57, 1982
Hommage à Johannes Brahms, large orchestra (75 players), Op. 59, 1982
Concerto, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute, bass flute), large orchestra, Op. 61, 1983
Canti Amadei (Concerto da camera No. 3) (concerto no. 1), cello, small orchestra (2 oboes, 2 French horns, 26 strings), Op. 63, 1984
Concerto da camera No. 4, harp, cello, 15 strings, Op. 64, 1984
Concerto retro, flute, harpsichord, string orchestra, Op. 39a, 1986 (version of chamber work)
Musica incrostata, large orchestra, Op. 70, 1988
Caro Luigi, 4 cellos, 16 strings, Op. 73, 1989
Concerto (Concerto da camera No. 5), alto saxophone, 15 strings, Op. 79, 1992
Carillon, large orchestra, Op. 80, 1992–93
Concerto No. 2, cello, orchestra (4 winds, harp, piano, celesta, 6 percussion, 44 strings), Op. 85, 1994–95
Concerto No. 2, violin, orchestra (8 winds, harp, celesta, 4 percussion, 19 strings), Op. 87, 1996
Farewell Music, large orchestra (63 players), Op. 88, 1997
Concerto, clarinet, large orchestra, Op. 96, 2001
Symphony No. 7, 'Sinfonia del tempo che passa', large orchestra, Op. 97, 2002–03
Fanfare for the Wrocław Philharmonic, large orchestra, 2004
Concerto, violin, cello, large orchestra, Op. 105, 2005–06
Musique scintillante, small orchestra (14 players), Op. 108, 2007
Concerto, guitar, timpani, 5 strings, Op. 115, 2011
Musique de la Lumière et de la Pénombre, small orchestra (4 winds, 3 brass, harp, piano, celesta, 2 percussion, strings), Op. 118, 2012
Five Contredanses for Two Orchestras, timpani (+ percussion), 2 orchestras (8 winds, 2 French horns, 2 trumpets, violins, cellos, double basses; 8 winds, 2 French horns, 2 trumpets, violins, cellos, double basses), Op. 119, 2013
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Introspection, 5 cellos, Op. 2, 1960
Sonata No. 1, cello, Op. 1, 1959–61
Music, 3 cellos, piano, timpani, Op. 4, 1962
String Quartet No. 1, Op. 8, 1963, revised 1986
Interludio statico, clarinet, 4 cellos, Op. 11, 1963–64
Hommage à Nadia Boulanger, flute, harp, viola, Op. 17, 1967, revised 1971, 1991
String Quartet No. 2, Op. 23, 1969
Quattro Colori, clarinet, trombone, cello, piano, Op. 24, 1970
String Quartet No. 3, Op. 27, 1971
String Quartet No. 4, Op. 33, 1974
Sonata, violin, Op. 36, 1975
Concerto retro, flute, violin, cello, harpsichord, Op. 39, 1976 (also version for flute, harpsichord, string orchestra, Op. 39a)
Three Pieces, percussion, fixed media, Op. 40, 1976
Moment musical, cello, 1976
String Quartet No. 5, Op. 42, 1977
Interludio drammatico, oboe, ensemble (trombone, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 2 percussion), Op. 48, 1980
Piano Trio, violin, cello, piano, Op. 50, 1980
Sonata for Flutes, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), Op. 52, 1980
Six Preludes, violin, 1981
String Quartet No. 6, Op. 51, 1981
Geigenkrämchen (7 pieces for children), violin, piano, Op. 55, 1981
Canzona, cello, piano, Op. 56, 1981
Pezzo capriccioso, oboe, piano, Op. 60, 1982
Sonata No. 1, cello, piano, Op. 62, 1983
String Quartet No. 7, Op. 65, 1985 (also version as Quartet, 4 saxophones, Op. 65a, 1986)
String Quartet No. 8, Op. 67, 1985
Quintet, clarinet, string quartet, Op. 66, 1986
Capriccio per sei strumenti, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), violin, viola, cello, Op. 69, 1987–88
Wittener Kammermusik, flute, oboe, clarinet, 1988
Fanfare, 8 trombones, 1989
String Quartet No. 9, Op. 74, 1989–90
Monologue, cello, 1990
Piano Quintet, piano, string quartet, Op. 76, 1990–91
Pezzo per Mauro, flute, alto saxophone, trombone, double bass, piano (all + percussion), Op. 77, 1991
Trio, flute, guitar, viola, Op. 78, 1992
String Trio, violin, viola, cello, Op. 81, 1993
String Quartet No. 10, Op. 82, 1993–94
Misterioso, violin, piano, Op. 83, 1994
Au-delà d'une absence, string quartet, Op. 89, 1997
Trio, clarinet, cello, piano, Op. 90, 1997–98
Capriccio interrotto, violin, piano, Op. 93, 2000
Cinque Colori, flute, violin, cello, piano, percussion, Op. 94, 2001
String Quartet No. 11, Op. 95, 2001
Trio, oboe, bassoon, piano, Op. 98, 2002
Sonata No. 2, cello, piano, Op. 99, 2003–04
Epitaphium (in memoriam Boris Piergamienszczikow), 3 cellos, piano, Op. 100, 2004
Duetti concertanti, bassoon, piano, Op. 101, 2004
Metamorphoses, alto saxophone, piano, Op. 102, 2004
String Quartet No. 12, Op. 103, 2005
Quintet, 4 saxophones, piano, Op. 107, 2006–07
Sonata No. 2, cello, Op. 109, 2007
Duetti per due violini, 2 violins, Op. 110, 2008
Burlesca all'ongarese, flute, 2009
Piano Quartet, violin, viola, cello, piano, Op. 112, 2009
String Quartet No. 13, Op. 113, 2010
Imaginary Variations, violin, piano, Op. 114, 2010
CHORAL:
Symphony No. 2, 'Epitaphium Stanisław Wiechowicz in memoriam' (text by Julian Tuwim), mixed chorus, large orchestra (70 players), Op. 14, 1966–67
Symphony No. 3, 'Symphonie d'Orphée' (text by Paul Valéry), mixed chorus, large orchestra (62 players), Op. 20, 1968
Velichalnaya – Te Deum, mixed chorus, Op. 71, 1988
Mass, mixed chorus, organ, Op. 68, 1987–92 (also version for mixed chorus, organ, orchestra, Op. 68a, 1995–96)
Te Deum, mixed chorus, Op. 84, 1995
Schöpfung (oratorio, text by Gerhard Engelsberger), soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus, large orchestra (75 players), Op. 91, 1998–99
Anthem of the European Union, mixed chorus, 2004
Symphony No. 8, 'Sinfonia da Requiem' (text by Adam Zagajewski), mixed chorus, large orchestra, Op. 111, 2009
Nehmt hin die Welt! (text by Friedrich von Schiller), mixed chorus, Op. 120, 2013
VOCAL:
Songs of Resignation and Denial (text by Jadwiga Szczerbowska), soprano, violin, piano, Op. 9, 1963
Quartettino (text by Julian Tuwim), soprano, flute, cello, piano, Op. 16, 1966
Five Chamber Pieces (vocalise), soprano, clarinet, violin, viola, Op. 18, 1967
Polish Chants (text by Julian Tuwim), soprano, orchestra (celesta, 6 percussion, 48 strings), Op. 34, 1974
Lyric Triptych (text by W. H. Auden), tenor, small orchestra (4 clarinets, 3 percussion, 11 strings), Op. 38, 1976
Nine Limericks of Stanisław Jerzy Lec (text by Stanisław Jerzy Lec), soprano, piano, Op. 45, 1979
Sunday Colloquy in the Street (text by Julian Tuwim), baritone, piano, Op. 54, 1981
Chansons d'un rêveur solitaire (song-cycle, text by Paul Verlaine), soprano, large orchestra, Op. 116, 2012
PIANO:
Aphorisms, Op. 3, 1961
Sonata No. 1, Op. 5, 1962
Sonata No. 2, Op. 7, 1963
Sonata No. 3, Op. 13, 1964–66
Sonata No. 4, Op. 22, 1968
Magic Pictures, Op. 21a, 1967–75
24 Preludes, Op. 43, 1977–78
Suite for Children, Op. 25a, 1978
Sonata No. 5, 'Sonate de sons rayonnants', Op. 32, 1975–97, revised 2003
Impromptu multicolore, 2 pianos, Op. 92, 2000
les sons rayonnants, 2 player pianos, computer, 2000
Quasi una fantasia, Op. 104, 2005
Sonata No. 6, 'Sonata breve', Op. 106, 2006
souvenir de sanssouci, player piano, 2006
Sei Intermezzi, Op. 121, 2013
ORGAN:
Fantasia, Op. 75, 1990
HARPSICHORD:
Sonata, Op. 30, 1972–73
ARRANGEMENTS:
Igroki – The Gamblers, Op. 63 (Dmitri Shostakovich) (opera in 2 acts, libretto by Dmitri Shostakovich [German version by Jörg Morgener], after Nikolai Gogol), 3 tenors, 2 baritones, 4 basses, large orchestra, Op. 53, 1980–81, revised 2002
Sonata, Op. 134 (Dmitri Shostakovich), violin, orchestra (8 winds, 2 French horns, harp, percussion, strings), Op. 86, 1995
SELECT DISCOGRAPHY
Mass, Op. 68a. Antoni Wit/Chór Filharmonii Narodowej, Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Narodowej (Accord: ACD 096)
Concerto retro, Op. 39; Au-delà d'une absence, Op. 89; Sonata No. 1, Op. 5; Sonata for Flutes, Op. 52. Elżbieta Gajewska, flute, piccolo, alto flute; Tadeusz Gadzina, violin; Marian Wasiółka, cello; Krzysztof Meyer, piano, harpsichord; Kwartet Wilanów (Acte Préalable: AP0076)
String Trio, Op. 81; String Quartet No. 11, Op. 95; String Quartet No. 12, Op. 103. Tadeusz Gadzina, violin; Ryszard Duź, viola; Marian Wasiółka, cello; Kwartet Wilanów (Acte Préalable: AP0146)
Sonata No. 1, Op. 62; Sonata No. 1, Op. 1. Reimund Korupp, cello; Krzysztof Meyer, piano (Ambitus: 97 848)
Misterioso, Op. 83. Albrecht Breuninger, violin; Irene Berger, piano (Ars Musici: AM 1204)
Velichalnaya, Op. 71. Wojciech Krolopp/Poznański Chór Chłopięcy (Azymuth: AZ CD 11.045)
Igroki, Op. 63 (Dmitri Shostakovich), Op. 53. Michail Jurowski/soloists of the Bolshoi Theatre, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie (Capriccio: 60 062)
Piano Trio, Op. 50. Altenberg Trio Wien (Challenge Classics: CC72310)
Sonata No. 2, Op. 109. Julius Berger, cello (Challenge Classics: CC72376)
Monologue. David Geringas, cello (ConBrioDisc: ConBES 2019)
String Quartet No. 8, Op. 67. Kwartet Dafô (DUX Recording Producers: 0374)
Quintet, Op. 66; Piano Quintet, Op. 76. Paweł Drobnik, clarinet; Andrzej Tatarski, piano; Kwartet Wieniawski (DUX Recording Producers: 0507/08)
Concerto No. 2, Op. 85; Concerto No. 2, Op. 87. Magdalena Rezler, violin; Boris Piergamienszczikow, cello; Antoni Wit/Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia w Katowicach (DUX Recording Producers: 0594)
Symphony No. 7, 'Sinfonia del tempo che passa', Op. 97; Concerto, Op. 105. Magdalena Rezler, violin; Julius Berger, cello; Łukasz Borowicz, Gabriel Chmura/Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia w Katowicach (DUX Recording Producers: 0695)
Schöpfung, Op. 91. Agnieszka Rehlis, soprano; Ewa Marciniec, alto; Ryszard Minkiewicz, tenor; Piotr Nowacki, bass; Łukasz Borowicz/Camerata Silesia, Chór Polskiego Radia w Krakowie, Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia w Katowicach (DUX Recording Producers: 0919/20)
Aphorisms, Op. 3; Sonata No. 1, Op. 5; Sonata No. 2, Op. 7; Sonata No. 3, Op. 13. Marek Szlezer, piano (DUX Recording Producers: 0923)
Aphorisms, Op. 3; Sonata No. 1, Op. 5; Sonata No. 2, Op. 7; Sonata No. 3, Op. 13; Sonata No. 4, Op. 22; Sonata No. 5, 'Sonate de sons rayonnants', Op. 32; Quasi una fantasia, Op. 104; Sonata No. 6, 'Sonata breve', Op. 106. Christian Seibert, piano (EDA: EDA 36)
Quintet, Op. 66. Eduard Brunner, clarinet; Kwartet Wilanów (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 147)
String Quartet No. 1, Op. 8; String Quartet No. 7, Op. 65; String Quartet No. 8, Op. 67. Kwartet Wilanów (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 151)
String Quartet No. 4, Op. 33; String Quartet No. 5, Op. 42; String Quartet No. 6, Op. 51. Kwartet Wilanów (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 162)
String Quartet No. 9, Op. 74; Piano Quintet, Op. 76. Krzysztof Meyer, piano; Kwartet Wilanów (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 171)
24 Preludes, Op. 43. Krzysztof Meyer, piano (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 174)
Piano Trio, Op. 50; Trio, Op. 78; String Trio, Op. 81. Robert Aitken, flute; Reinbert Evers, guitar; Eckart Schloifer, viola; Trio Wawelskie; Deutsches Streichtrio (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 176)
Symphony No. 6, 'Polish Symphony', Op. 57; Canti Amadei (Concerto da camera No. 3), Op. 63. Iwan Monighetti, cello; Stanisław Gałoński/Capella Cracoviensis; Antoni Wit/Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia w Krakowie (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 179)
String Quartet No. 2, Op. 23; String Quartet No. 3, Op. 27; String Quartet No. 10, Op. 82. Kwartet Wilanów (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 184)
Pezzo per Mauro, Op. 77; Capriccio per sei strumenti, Op. 69; Hommage à Nadia Boulanger, Op. 17; Trio, Op. 90. Elżbieta Gajewska, flute, piccolo, alto flute, percussion; Eduard Brunner, clarinet; Werner Mittelbach, alto saxophone, percussion; Hansjörg Profanter, trombone, percussion; Helga Storck, harp; Tadeusz Gadzina, violin; Ryszard Duź, viola; Iwan Monighetti, cello; Marian Wasiółka, cello; Heinrich Braun, double bass, percussion; Pavel Gililov, piano; Krzysztof Meyer, piano, percussion (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 189)
Sonata, Op. 36; String Quartet No. 11, Op. 95; String Quartet No. 12, Op. 103. Wolfgang Marschner, violin; Kwartet Wieniawski (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 192)
Sonata for Flutes, Op. 52; Capriccio per sei strumenti, Op. 69; Trio, Op. 90; Trio, Op. 98; Duetti concertanti, Op. 101; Metamorphoses, Op. 102. Elżbieta Gajewska, flute, piccolo, alto flute; Beate-Gabriela Schmitt, flute, piccolo, alto flute; Tomoharu Yoshida, oboe; Eduard Brunner, clarinet; John-Edward Kelly, alto saxophone; Koji Okazaki, bassoon; Tadeusz Gadzina, violin; Ryszard Duź, viola; Iwan Monighetti, cello; Marian Wasiółka, cello; Pavel Gililov, piano; Etsuko Okazaki, piano; Bob Versteegh, piano (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 194)
Aphorisms, Op. 3; Cinque Colori, Op. 94; Duetti per due violini, Op. 110; String Quartet No. 13, Op. 113. Mirosław Bocek, violin; Jarosław Żołnierczyk, violin; Andrzej Tatarski, piano; Mark-Andreas Schlingensiepen/ensemble (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 195)
Sonata, Op. 30. Elisabeth Chojnacka, harpsichord (Erato Records: STU 71010)
Musica incrostata, Op. 70; Concerto, Op. 46. Pavel Gililov, piano; Antoni Wit/Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia w Katowicach (Koch International Classics: KIC-CD-3-1573-2)
Hommage à Johannes Brahms, Op. 59. Antoni Wit/WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln (Koch International Classics: KIC-CD-3-5037-2)
Fantasia, Op. 75. Stefan Palm, organ (Kreuzberg Records: KR 10068)
les sons rayonnants. (Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm: MDG 645 1406-2)
Polish Chants, Op. 34. Stefania Woytowicz, soprano; Jerzy Maksymiuk/Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia w Katowicach (Muza: SX 1521)
Sonata No. 1, Op. 62. Iwan Monighetti, cello; Krzysztof Meyer, piano (Muza: SX 2579)
String Quartet No. 5, Op. 42; String Quartet No. 6, Op. 51. Kwartet Wieniawski (Naxos Records: 8.570776)
String Quartet No. 9, Op. 74; String Quartet No. 11, Op. 95; String Quartet No. 12, Op. 103. Kwartet Wieniawski (Naxos Records: 8.572656)
String Quartet No. 7, Op. 65; String Quartet No. 8, Op. 67; String Quartet No. 10, Op. 82; String Quartet No. 13, Op. 113. Kwartet Wieniawski (Naxos Records: 8.573001)
Concerto (Concerto da camera No. 5), Op. 79. John-Edward Kelly, alto saxophone; Micha Hamel/Radio Kamer Orkest (NEOS: 10910)
Concerto No. 1, Op. 12. Roman Lasocki, violin; Karol Stryja/Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia w Katowicach (Olympia: OCD 323)
Capriccio interrotto, Op. 93 (2 performances). Alena Baeva, violin; Roman Simović, violin; Guzal Karieva, piano; Zanna Parchomowska, piano (Polskie Radio: 191)
Capriccio interrotto, Op. 93. Alena Baeva, violin; Guzal Karieva, piano (Polskie Radio: 194)
First movement from Sonata No. 2, Op. 7. Bettina Otto, piano (Sächsische Tonträger: LC 9930)
24 Preludes, Op. 43 (nos. 9, 15, 17). Paweł Kubica, piano (SMS RP: 12691)
Sonata No. 1, Op. 62; Canzona, Op. 56; Sonata No. 2, Op. 99. Evva Mizerska, cello; Emma Abbate, piano; Katarzyna Glensk, piano (Toccata Classics: TOCC0098)
String Quartet No. 3, Op. 27. Kwartet Wilanów (Veriton: ECD 035)