Witold Lutosławski

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Warsaw, Poland (1913 – 1994)

Witold Lutosławski (IPA: [vitɔlt lutɔswafski]; January 25, 1913, Warsaw, Poland – February 7, 1994, Warsaw) was one of the major European composers of the 20th century, and one of the pre-eminent Polish musicians during his last three decades. During his lifetime, he earned many international awards and prizes, including the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest honour.

Lutosławski studied piano and composition in Warsaw. His early works—like the music of many 19th- and 20th-century composers—were influenced by Polish folk music. His style demonstrates a wide range of rich atmospheric textures. He began to develop his own characteristic composition techniques in the late 1950s. His music from this period onwards incorporates his own methods of building harmonies from a small group of musical intervals. It also uses aleatory processes, in which the rhythmic coordination of parts is subject to an element of chance. His works (of which he was a notable conductor) include four symphonies, a Concerto for Orchestra, and several concertos and song cycles.

During World War II, Lutosławski made a living by playing the piano in Warsaw bars. For a time after the war, Stalinist authorities banned his compositions for being “formalist”—accessible only to the perceived elite. In the 1980s, Lutosławski used his stature to support the Solidarity movement, which won the 1989 legislative election and broke the Soviet hold over Poland.
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  • aaktt

    gdzie skok popularności na laście z okazji roku Lutosławskiego? [3]

    25 Mar 2:05am Reply

  • lelusio

    ale gdzie jest skok popularności na laście z okazji roku Lutosławskiego? [2]

    8 Mar 2:53pm Reply

  • KnowYourEnemy15

    no to jest okazja, ale gdzie jest skok popularności na laście z okazji roku Lutosławskiego? haha

    28 Jan 11:51pm Reply

  • kajuga

    Wczoraj przypadła rocznica 100 urodzin. Na TVP Kultura z tej okazji świetny program wyemitowano z tej okazji. Wstyd się przyznać, ale słabo znam jego twórczość. Pora nadrobić zaległości.

    25 Jan 11:38pm Reply

  • lelusio

    Witold Lutosławski = GOD [5]

    25 Jan 3:42pm Reply

  • tim4tw

    Everyone should check out his "Funeral Music for Strings". Incredible stuff.

    25 Sep 2012 Reply

  • zorzynek

    Witold Lutosławski = GOD [4]

    7 Sep 2012 Reply

  • lhkollider

    GOD with an attitude. This dude seriously kicks ass.

    22 Aug 2012 Reply

  • FallingUpwards7

    Сильно.

    26 Oct 2011 Reply

  • lelusio

    Witold Lutosławski = GOD [3]

    13 Oct 2011 Reply

  • fastlane01

    It's never too late to appreciate his qualities.

    2 Oct 2011 Reply

  • thejackyl

    I can't believe I only heard of this guy this year. This stuff is seriously good.

    2 Jun 2011 Reply

  • rod32lop

    Please forgive me for my moment of stupidity.

    6 Mar 2011 Reply

  • rod32lop

    You will not ever forgive me?

    6 Mar 2011 Reply

  • FriendlyWarning

    Where's the best place to leap into his oeuvre?

    9 Feb 2011 Reply

  • myrmidonmage

    Recitativo e Arioso is one of the best things ever written and is amazing to play. How could I have forgotten about Lutosławski!?

    8 Dec 2010 Reply

  • lelusio

    Witold Lutosławski = GOD [2]

    30 Nov 2010 Reply

  • insomniacme

    nice

    23 May 2010 Reply

  • photon_man62

    Gry Weneckie are fantastic.

    27 Apr 2010 Reply

  • Mendigo01

    awesome sauce

    11 Apr 2010 Reply
    • All 25 shouts

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