THE LIVING COMPOSERS PROJECT  

Krzysztof Meyer

(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.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address for consulting scores: contact@sikorski.de

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)