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Meyer, Krzysztof (b. August 11, 1943, Kraków). Polish composer 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 piano lessons at age five and studied composition and music theory privately with Stanislaw Wiechowicz in Kraków from 1954-63. He then studied music theory with Aleksander Fraczkiewicz 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.
His honors include First Prize in a young composers competition in France (1966, for Songs to Shakespeare [lost]) and Second Prize in a young composers competition in Poland (1966, for Symphony No. 1). He also received two prizes in the Fitelberg competition (Honorable Mention, 1967, for Symphony No. 2; First Prize, 1968, for Symphony No. 3) and the Grand Prix from the Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco (1970, for Cyberiada). His music has twice represented Poland at the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers (1970, String Quartet No. 2; 1976, String Quartet No. 3).
In addition, he has earned two awards of the Minister of Culture and Art (1973, 1975), First Prize in the Karol Szymanowski competition in Warsaw (1974, for Symphony No. 4), two medals from the government of Brazil (1975, for String Quartet No. 4; 1977, for Concerto retro), and the Herder-Preis in Vienna (1984). Most recently, he earned the Prize of the Polish Composers Union (1992), the Alfred Jurzykowski Foundation Award (1993) and the Johann-Stamitz-Preis in Mannheim (1996). He has also been a member of the Freie Akademie der Künste in Mannheim since 1988. He is the subject of the books Krzysztof Meyer – Do i od kompozytora (1994, edited by Maciej Jablonski and Martina Homma, Edition Ars Nova; German version as Krzysztof Meyer – Ein Komponistenportrait, 1998, Bela Verlag) and Musica incrostata by Thomas Weselmann (2003, Poznan Society of the Friends of Sciences).
As a writer, he has contributed articles to numerous new music publications and wrote the first Polish monograph on Dmitry Shostakovich (1973, expanded as Schostakowitsch, Sein Leben, sein Werk, seine Zeit, 1994, with subsequent translations [French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, and Polish], 1994-99). He also wrote a two-volume biography of Witold Lutoslawski, Droga do dojrzalosci and Droga do mistrzostwa (both 2003, PWM).
Mr. Meyer is also active in other positions. He served as pianist of the new music ensemble MW 2 from 1965-67 and as president of the Polish Composers Union from 1985-89.
He taught analysis, counterpoint, music history, and music theory at the Academy of Music in Kraków from 1966-87 and has lectured on composition at the Musikhochschule Köln since 1987. He has also lectured on new music abroad, particularly in South America.
Internationale Musikverlage Hans Sikorski publishes most of his music.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Street address: Mr. Krzysztof Meyer, c/o Internationale Musikverlage Hans Sikorski, Johnsallee 23, D - 20148 Hamburg, Germany
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: Cyberiada (3 act opera, libretto by the composer, after Stanislaw Lem), Op. 15, 1967-70, revised 1985; The Countess (1 act ballet, after opera by Stanislaw Moniuszko), Op. 49, 1980; The Maple Brothers (2 act children's opera, libretto by the composer, after Yevgeny Shvarts), Op. 72, 1988-89
ORCHESTRAL: Concerto da camera No. 1, flute, 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, 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, piccolo (+ flute, alto flute, bass flute), large orchestra, Op. 61, 1983; Canti Amadei (Concerto da camera No. 3), 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)
ORCHESTRAL: Musica incrostata, large orchestra, Op. 70, 1988; Caro Luigi, 4 celli, 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, large orchestra, Op. 97, 2002-03
CHAMBER MUSIC: Introspection, 5 celli, Op. 2, 1960; Sonata, cello, Op. 1, 1959-61; Music, 3 celli, piano, timpani, Op. 4, 1962; String Quartet No. 1, Op. 8, 1963, revised 1986; Interludio statico, clarinet, 4 celli, 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, tape, 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, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), Op. 52, 1980; Six Preludes, violin, 1981; String Quartet No. 6, Op. 51, 1981; Canzona, cello, piano, Op. 56, 1981; Pezzo capriccioso, oboe, piano, Op. 60, 1982; Sonata, 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, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), violin, viola, cello, Op. 69, 1987-88; Wittener Kammermusik, flute, oboe, clarinet, 1988; Fanfare, 8 trombones, 1989
CHAMBER MUSIC: 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, 1998; 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
CHORAL: Symphony No. 2, 'Epitaphium Stanislaw Wiechowicz in memoriam' (text by Julian Tuwim), mixed chorus, large orchestra (70 players), Op. 14, 1967; 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
VOCAL: Songs of Resignation and Denial (text by Jadwiga Szczeblowska), soprano, violin, piano, Op. 9, 1963; Quartettino (text by Julian Tuwim), soprano, flute, cello, piano, Op. 16, 1966; Five Chamber Pieces, mezzo-soprano, clarinet, violin, viola, Op. 18, 1967; Polish Chants (text by Julian Tuwim), soprano, celesta, 6 percussion, 48 strings, Op. 34, 1974; Lyric Triptych (text by Wystan Hugh Auden), tenor, 4 clarinets, 3 percussion, 11 strings, Op. 38, 1976; Nine Limericks of Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, soprano, piano, Op. 45, 1979; Sunday Colloquy in the Street (text by Julian Tuwim), baritone, piano, Op. 54, 1981
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; 24 Preludes, Op. 43, 1978; Sonata No. 5, 'Sonate de sons rayonnants', Op. 32, 1997, revised 2003; Impromptu multicolore, 2 pianos, 2000
ORGAN: Fantasia, Op. 75, 1990
HARPSICHORD: Sonata, Op. 30, 1972-73
ARRANGEMENTS: Igroki – The Gamblers, Op. 63 (Dmitry Shostakovich) (3 act opera, libretto by Dmitry Shostakovich [German version by Jörg Morgener], after Nikolay Gogol), Op. 53, 1980-81; Sonata, Op. 134 (Dmitry Shostakovich), violin, orchestra, Op. 86, 1995
SELECT DISCOGRAPHY
Mass, Op. 68a. Antoni Wit/Warsaw Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra (Accord: ACD 096)
Concerto retro, Op. 39; Au-delà d'une absence, Op. 89; Sonata No. 1, Op. 5; Sonata, Op. 52. Elzbieta Gajewska, flutes; Tadeusz Gadzina, violin; Marian Wasiólka, cello; Krzysztof Meyer, piano, harpsichord; Wilanów String Quartet (Acte Préalable: AP 0076)
Sonata, Op. 62; Sonata, Op. 1. Reimund Korupp, cello; Krzysztof Meyer, piano (Ambitus: 97484)
Misterioso, Op. 83. Albrecht Breuninger, violin; Irene Berger, piano (Ars Musici: AM 1204)
Velichalnaya, Op. 71. Wojciech A. Krolopp/Polish Nightingales (Azymuth: AZ CD 11.045)
Igroki (Dmitry Shostakovich), Op. 53. Michail Jurowski/soloists of the Bolshoy Theatre, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie (Capriccio: 60 062)
Monologue. David Geringas, cello (ConBrioDisc: ConBES 2019)
String Quartet No. 8, Op. 67. Dafô String Quartet (DUX: 0374)
Quintet, Op. 66. Eduard Brunner, clarinet; Wilanów String Quartet (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 147)
String Quartet Nos. 1, Op. 8; 7, Op. 65; 8, Op. 67. Wilanów String Quartet (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 151)
String Quartet Nos. 4, Op. 33; 5, Op. 42; 6, Op. 51. Wilanów String Quartet (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 162)
String Quartet No. 9, Op. 74; Piano Quintet, Op. 76. Krzysztof Meyer, piano; Wilanów String Quartet (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; Wawel Trio; Deutsches Streichtrio (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 176)
Symphony No. 6, 'Polish Symphony', Op. 57; Canti Amadei (Concerto da camera No. 3), Op. 63. Ivan Monighetti, cello; Stanislaw Galonski/Capella Cracoviensis; Antoni Wit/Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra of Kraków (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 179)
String Quartet Nos. 2, Op. 23; 3, Op. 27; 10, Op. 82. Wilanów String Quartet (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 184)
Pezzo per Mauro, Op. 77; Capriccio, Op. 69; Hommage à Nadia Boulanger, Op. 17; Trio (clarinet, cello, piano). Elzbieta Gajewska, flutes, percussion; Eduard Brunner, clarinet; Werner Mittelbach, alto saxophone, percussion; Hans-Jörg Profanter, trombone, percussion; Helga Storck, harp; Tadeusz Gadzina, violin; Ryszard Duz, viola; Ivan Monighetti, Marian Wasiólka, celli; Heinrich Braun, double bass, percussion; Pavel Gililov, piano; Krzysztof Meyer, piano, percussion (Edition Pro Viva: ISPV 189)
Sonata, Op. 30. Elisabeth Chojnacka, harpsichord (Erato: STU 71010)
Musica incrostata, Op. 70; Concerto, Op. 46. Pavel Gililov, piano; Antoni Wit/Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Katowice (Koch/Schwann: 1573)
Hommage à Johannes Brahms, Op. 59. Antoni Wit/Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester (Koch/Schwann: 5037)
Fantasia, Op. 75. Stefan Palm, organ (KR: 10068)
Concerto No. 1, Op. 12. Roman Lasocki, violin; Karol Stryja/Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Katowice (Olympia: OCD 323)
Capriccio interrotto, Op. 93 (2 performances). Alona Bayeva, Roman Simovic, violins; Guyuzal Karieva, Zanna Parchomowska, pianos (Polish Radio: 191)
Capriccio interrotto, Op. 93. Alona Bayeva, violin; Guyuzal Karieva, piano (Polish Radio: 194)
Sonata No. 2, Op. 7. Bettina Otto, piano (Sächsische Tonträger: LC 9930)
24 Preludes, Op. 43 (nos. 9, 15, 17). Pawel Kubica, piano (SMS RP: 12691)
String Quartet No. 3, Op. 27. Wilanów String Quartet (Veriton: ECD 035)
(Last updated on October 13, 2004)
