Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

March 7, 1911

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Stefan Kisielewski was a Polish composer, music critic, and journalist born on March 1, 1911, in Warsaw, Poland. He was the son of a famous Polish composer, Ludomir Różycki, and a pianist, Maria Kisielewska. Stefan Kisielewski grew up in a musical family and started playing the piano at a young age. He received his formal music education at the Warsaw Conservatory, where he studied composition with Kazimierz Sikorski and piano with Zbigniew Drzewiecki. Kisielewski's early compositions were influenced by the neoclassical style of Stravinsky and Hindemith. His first major work, the Piano Concerto No. 1, was premiered in 1933 and received critical acclaim. The concerto showcased Kisielewski's technical skill as a pianist and his ability to blend traditional forms with modern harmonies. In addition to his work as a composer, Kisielewski was also a prolific music critic and journalist. He wrote for several Polish newspapers and magazines, including "Kurier Poranny," "Tygodnik Powszechny," and "Ruch Muzyczny." His writing was known for its wit, humor, and insightful commentary on the state of music in Poland. During World War II, Kisielewski was active in the Polish resistance movement and was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944. He was imprisoned in several concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Buchenwald, before being liberated by the Allies in 1945. His experiences during the war had a profound impact on his music, and many of his later works were marked by a sense of darkness and despair. After the war, Kisielewski continued to compose and write about music. He was a founding member of the Polish Composers' Union and served as its president from 1956 to 1959. He also taught composition at the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw. Kisielewski's music is characterized by its clarity, precision, and economy of means. He was a master of counterpoint and often used traditional forms, such as the fugue and sonata, in his compositions. His works range from solo piano pieces to large-scale orchestral works, and he also wrote several operas and ballets. One of Kisielewski's most famous works is the Symphony No. 2, which was premiered in 1951. The symphony is a powerful and emotional work that reflects the composer's experiences during the war. It is marked by its use of dissonance and its dramatic contrasts between light and dark. Another notable work is the Piano Sonata No. 2, which was composed in 1955. The sonata is a virtuosic work that showcases Kisielewski's technical skill as a pianist. It is also notable for its use of folk melodies and its incorporation of jazz elements. Kisielewski's music has been performed and recorded by many prominent musicians and ensembles, including the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Silesian Quartet. His legacy as a composer and music critic continues to be celebrated in Poland and around the world.

More....