Composer

:

Krzysztof Penderecki

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2009

Average_duration

:

20:16

"Prosimy cie (Kadisz)" is a choral work composed by Krzysztof Penderecki in 1980. The piece was premiered on September 28, 1980, in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Wrocław, Poland, as part of the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre. The work is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different text. The first movement is a setting of the traditional Jewish prayer "Kadish," which is recited during mourning and is a prayer for the dead. The second movement is a setting of a poem by Tadeusz Różewicz, a Polish poet who survived the Second World War. The poem, titled "Prosimy cie" ("We ask you"), is a plea to God to remember the victims of the war and to bring an end to the suffering. The third movement is a setting of a text by the Polish poet Czesław Miłosz, titled "Dedication." The work is characterized by Penderecki's use of dissonant harmonies and complex rhythms, which create a sense of tension and unease. The choral writing is often dense and polyphonic, with multiple voices singing different lines simultaneously. The use of percussion instruments, including timpani and bass drum, adds to the dramatic effect of the piece. The first movement, "Kadish," begins with a solo soprano voice singing the traditional prayer in Hebrew. The choir then enters, singing in a dense, polyphonic texture. The movement builds to a climax before ending with a quiet, peaceful resolution. The second movement, "Prosimy cie," begins with a solo tenor voice singing the opening lines of Różewicz's poem. The choir then enters, singing in a more homophonic texture than in the first movement. The movement is characterized by a sense of urgency and desperation, with the choir pleading with God to remember the victims of the war. The third movement, "Dedication," begins with a solo soprano voice singing the opening lines of Miłosz's text. The choir then enters, singing in a more contemplative and reflective style than in the previous movements. The movement builds to a climax before ending with a quiet, peaceful resolution. Overall, "Prosimy cie (Kadisz)" is a powerful and moving work that reflects Penderecki's deep concern for the victims of war and his belief in the power of music to express the inexpressible.

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