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Composer Performer

 

Maria Pokrzywinska was a Polish composer born on December 8, 1935, in Warsaw, Poland. She was the daughter of a lawyer and a pianist, and her parents encouraged her to pursue music from a young age. She began playing the piano at the age of six and showed a natural talent for music. Pokrzywinska studied at the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw, where she received a degree in composition in 1959. She continued her studies at the Academy of Music in Krakow, where she studied with the renowned composer Krzysztof Penderecki. During her time in Krakow, she also studied with the composer Witold Lutoslawski, who had a significant influence on her musical style. In the early years of her career, Pokrzywinska composed primarily for the theater. She wrote music for productions at the National Theater in Warsaw, the Wroclaw Opera, and the Krakow Philharmonic. Her early works were characterized by a modernist style, with dissonant harmonies and complex rhythms. In the 1970s, Pokrzywinska began to incorporate elements of folk music into her compositions. She was particularly interested in the music of the Tatra Mountains, a region in southern Poland known for its distinctive folk music. She traveled to the region to study the music and incorporated its rhythms and melodies into her compositions. One of Pokrzywinska's most significant works from this period is her Symphony No. 2, which was premiered in 1976. The symphony is based on folk melodies from the Tatra Mountains and features a large orchestra and choir. The work is characterized by its use of complex rhythms and harmonies, as well as its incorporation of folk instruments such as the dulcimer and the fiddle. In the 1980s, Pokrzywinska continued to explore the use of folk music in her compositions. She wrote a series of works for chamber ensembles that incorporated folk melodies and rhythms. One of these works, her String Quartet No. 2, was premiered in 1983 and is based on folk melodies from the Podhale region of Poland. In addition to her work as a composer, Pokrzywinska was also a respected music educator. She taught composition at the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw and was a mentor to many young composers. She was known for her dedication to her students and her willingness to help them develop their own unique musical voices. Throughout her career, Pokrzywinska received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to Polish music. She was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta, one of Poland's highest honors, in 1997. She was also a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Polish Composers' Union. Maria Pokrzywinska passed away on January 29, 2019, at the age of 83. She left behind a legacy of innovative and influential compositions that continue to be performed and studied today. Her work as a composer and educator has had a significant impact on the development of Polish music and will continue to inspire future generations of musicians.

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