Krzysztof Meyer

Biography

Meyer was born in Krakow, Poland. As a boy he played piano and organ, and began his composition study early – in 1954, with Stanislaw Wiechowicz. Then, at the State College of Music in Krakow he continued studying with Wiechowicz, and after his death in 1964, did his diploma with Krzysztof Penderecki (1965). He also studied music theory (diploma in 1966). In Paris, he took courses with Nadia Boulanger (1964, 1966, and 1968), and in Warsaw he became a private pupil of Witold Lutoslawski.

His Symphony No. 1 was his first work to be performed, in Krakow in 1964. In 1965, while still a student, he made his debut at the "Warsaw Autumn", as the youngest composer in the festival’s history (String Quartet No. 1). He was fascinated with avant-garde not only as a composer: from 1965 to 1967, as a member of "MW2 Ensemble", he performed experimental pieces, typical for the sixties, in Poland and in some West European countries. Later he continued to be active as a pianist, performing mostly his own works, or playing chamber music.

From 1966 to 1987 Meyer taught theory at the State College of Music (now Academy of Music in Krakow), holding the chairmanship of the Department of Music Theory from 1972 to 1975. From 1987 to 2008 he was professor of composition at the Hochschule fur Musik in Cologne. He has written biographies of Dmitri Shostakovich and Witold Lutoslawski.

From 1985 and 1989 he was the president of the Union of Polish Composers. For fourteen years (1974–1988) he took part in the work of the Repertory Committee of the "Warsaw Autumn" International Festival of Contemporary Music. Fellow of Collegium Invisibile.

Music

In his early compositions (String Quartets Nos. 1–4, Symphonies Nos. 1–3), Meyer experimented with unconventional sonorities, typical of the Polish avant-garde music in the 1960s. He used twelve-tone technique, albeit freely, as well as aleatoric technique and collage. All these means appear in his first opera Cyberiada, to a science-fiction libretto after Stanislaw Lem's The Cyberiad.

In later works, Meyer gradually limited the multitude of sonic ideas. He increasingly focussed on the drama and expression as understood in a traditional way although avoiding romantic effects. The style of Meyer's later works reflects his interest in tradition; even his use of titles such as "string quartet", "sonata", "concerto", "symphony" are indicators of the traditional trend in his aesthetic. "There are contemporary textures and timbres, but they are usually incidental to a language in which tonal pulls and familiar signposts govern the overall flow and structure"

Chamber music occupies a privileged place in his output. "What is attractive to him in such pieces is the fact that they are perfect to create ‘sonic puzzles՚, referring to the ʻhidden arithmetic exercise of the soul, which does not know that it is countingʼ, as Leibnitz described the essence of music. Examples of these are the variation of the tempi in String Quartet No. 11 or the changes of rhythm in String Quartet No. 10. Some pieces for large ensembles can be listened to as a musical commentary to a political event or existential reflection. These topics are hinted at by the subtitles and quotations (‘Polish՚ Symphony No. 6, referring to the atmosphere of martial law in Poland from 1981 to 1983) or the use of the text (Symphony No. 8, with the lyrics of the anti-antisemitic poems by Adam Zagajewski). The catastrophic message of the oratorio The Creation of the World is told through the text but its expression is achieved through the music."

Selected awards

First Prize for Symphony No. 3 (1968) at the Fitelberg Composers’ Competition

Prix de Composition Musicale of the Prince Pierre de Monaco Foundation for opera Cyberiada (1970)

Special Mention at Tribune Internationale des Compositeurs UNESCO in Paris for String Quartet No. 2 (1970) and String Quartet No. 3 (1976)

First Prize at the Karol Szymanowski Competition in Warsaw for Symphony No. 4

Gottfried-von-Herder-Preis (Vienna, 1984)

Award of the Union of Polish Composers (1992)

Alfred Jurzykowski Award (New York, 1994)

Johann-Stamitz-Preis (Mannheim, 1996)

Stage works

Cyberiada. Fantastic Comic Opera - 1970. Libretto by the composer, based upon Stanislaw Lem's series of short stories, The Cyberiad.

The Countess [Hrabina]. Ballet on the motives from Stanislaw Moniuszko's opera - 1980

The Gamblers [Igroki]. A Completed Version of Dmitri Shostakovich's opera after N. Gogol - 1981 (soloists of the "Bolshoi" in Moscow, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Michail Jurowski, Capriccio 60 062-2)

The Maple Brothers [Klonowi bracia]. Children Opera - 1989. Libretto by the composer after E. Szwartz

Works for orchestra

8 symphonies:

No. 1 – 1964No. 2 Epitaphium Stanislaw Wiechowicz in memoriam for choir and orchestra – 1967No. 3 Symphonie d'Orphee for choir and orchestra – 1968No. 4 – 1973No. 5 – 1979No. 6 "Polish" Symphony – 1982 (Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, A. Wit, ISPV 179 CD)No. 7 Sinfonia del tempo che passa – 2002–2003 (NOSPR, G. Chmura; DUX 0695)

Fireballs – 1976 (Silesian Philharmonic, Karol Stryja, Polish Information Center 007)

No.8 "Sinfonia da requiem" (2009)

Symphony in D major in Mozartean style – 1976

Hommage a Johannes Brahms – 1982 (Kolner-Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester, A. Wit, KOCH 3-5037-2)

Musica incrostata – 1988 (WOSPRiT, A. Wit, Koch Schwann 3-1573-2)

Farewell Music – 1997

Works for solo instrument(s) and orchestra

2 Flute concertos

No. 1 – 1964No. 2 – 1983

2 Violin concertos

No. 1 – 1965 (R. Lasocki, WOSPRiT, K. Stryja, Olympia OCD 323)No. 2 – 1996 (M. Rezler, NOSPR, G. Chmura, DUX 0594)

Concerto da camera for oboe, percussion and strings – 1972

Concerto for trumpet and orchestra – 1973

Concerto for piano – 1989 (Pavel Gililov, WOSPRiT, Antoni Wit, Koch Schwann 3-1573-2)

Concerto for saxophone and string orchestra – 1992 (John-Edward Kelly NEOS )

Canti Amadei per violoncello ed orchestra – 1984 (I. Monighetti, Capella Cracoviensis, S. Galonski, ISPV 179 CD)

Concerto for violoncello and orchestra – 1995 (B. Pergamenschikov, NOSPR, A. Wit, DUX 0594)

Concerto for harp, cello and string orchestra – 1984 (B. Trendowicz, K. Jaroszewska, Chamber Orchestra Amadeus, A. Duczmal; PR CD 085-2)

Caro Luigi per 4 violoncelli ed orchestra d'archi – 1989

Concerto for clarinet and orchestra – 2001 (E. Brunner, NOSPR, G. Chmura, DUX 0594)

Double concerto for violin, violoncello and orchestra – 2006 (M. Rezler, Julius Berger, L. Borowicz, NOSPR; DUX 0695)

Concerto for (acoustic) guitar, kettledrums and string orchestra (2011)

Vocal works

Symphony No. 2 Epitaphium Stanislaw Wiechowicz in memoriam for choir and orchestra – 1967

Symphony No. 3 Symphonie d'Orphee for choir and orchestra – 1968

Liryc Triptych for tenor and chamber orchestra – 1976

Mass for mixed choir and orchestra – 1996 (The National Orchestra and Choir in Warsaw, Antoni Wit, ACD 096-2)

Wjelitchalnaja for mixed choir – 1988 (Polish Nightingales, Wojciech A. Krolopp, Azymuth AZ AZ CD 11.045)

Creation (Schopfung), oratorio for soli, choir and orchestra – 1999

Symphony No. 8 Sinfonia da requiem for choir and orchestra – 2009

For two instruments

Violin and piano:

Misterioso for violin and piano – 1994 (A. Breuninger, I. Berger; Ars Musici AM 1204-02)

Capriccio interrotto for violin and piano – 2000 (A. Bayeva, G. Karyeva, PR CD 194; – R. Simovic, Z. Darhomorska, PR CD 191)

Cello and piano:

Canzona per violoncello e pianoforte – 1981 (D. Geringas, T. Schatz, ISPV 192 CD; – E. Mizerska, E. Abbate, TOCC 0098)

Two sonatas for cello and piano

Sonata per violoncello e pianoforte No.1 – 1983 (- R. Korupp, K. Meyer, Ambitus 97848; – E. Mizerska, E. Abbate, TOCC 0098)Sonata per violoncello e pianoforte No.2 – 2004 (E. Mizerska, K. Glensk, TOCC 0098 CD)

Other combinations:

Impromptu multicolore for two pianos – 2000 (A. Soos, I. Haag, MGB CTS-M 107)

Duetti concertanti for bassoon and piano – 2004 (K. & Etsuko Okazaki, ISPV 194 CD)

Metamorphoses for saxophone and piano – 2004 (J.-E. Kelly, B. Versteegh, ISPV 194)

For three instruments

Hommage a Nadia Boulanger for flute, viola and harp – 1971 (rec. E. Gajewska, R. Duz, H. Storck, ISPV 189 CD)

Piano Trio – 1980 (Trio Wawelskie, ISPV 176 CD; – Arcadia Trio, Bella Musica 31.2415; – Altenberg Trio, Challenge classic 72310)

Trio for flute, viola and guitar – 1992 (R. Aitken, E. Schloifer, R. Evers; ISPV 176 CD)

String Trio – 1993 (Deutsches Streichtrio; ISPV 176 CD; – T. Gadzina, R. Duz, M. Wasiolka; Acte Prealable AP0146)

Trio for clarinet, violin and piano – 1998 (E. Brunner, I. Monighetti, P. Gililov; ISPV 189 CD)

Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano – 2002 (Tomohara Yosiba, Koji and Etsuko Okazaki, ISPV 194)

For four instruments

13 String Quartets

No. 1 – 1963 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 151 CD; – Kairos Quartett, polmic 016)No. 2 – 1969 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 184 CD)No. 3 – 1971 (Wilanow String Quartet Veriton ECD 035 & ISPV 184 CD)No. 4 – 1974 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 162 CD)No. 5 – 1977 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 162 CD; – Wieniawski-Quartett; Naxos 8.570776)No. 6 – 1981 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 162 CD; – Wieniawski-Quartett; Naxos 8.570776)No. 7 – 1985 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 151 CD)No. 8 – 1985 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 151 CD; – Dafo Quartet, DUX 10190; – Wieniawski-Quartett; Naxos 8.570776)No. 9 – 1990 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 171 CD)No. 10 – 1994 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 184 CD)No. 11 – 2001 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 192 CD)No. 12 – 2005 (Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 192 CD; – Dafo Quartet, polmic 027)No. 13 - 2010, op. 113 (Wieniawski String Quartet; Naxos 8.573001, 2012)No. 14 - 2014

Quattro colori for clarinet, trombone, 'cello and piano – 1970

Concerto retro for flute, violin, violoncello and harpsichord – 1976 (E. Gajewska, T. Gadzina, M. Wasiolka, K. Meyer, Acte Prealable AP0076)

For five or more instruments

Clarinet Quintet – 1986 (E. Brunner, Wilanow String Quartet, ISPV 147 CD; – P. Drobnik, Kwartet Wieniawski; Dux 0507/0508)

Capriccio per sei strumenti – 1988 (E. Gajewska, T. Gadzina, R. Duz, M. Wasiolka, ISPV 189 CD)

Piano Quintet – 1991 (Wilanow String Quartet & K. Meyer; ISPV 171 CD; – Wieniawski Quartet & Andrzej Tatarski; Dux 0507/0508)

Cinque colori for flute, violin, violoncello, percussion and piano – 2001

For piano solo

6 Sonatas for Piano (Complete Piano Works - Christian Seibert, EDA 36)

No. 1 – 1962 (K. Meyer, Acte Prealable AP0076)No. 2 – 1963 (B. Otto, Sachsische Tontrager LC 9930)No. 3 – 1966No. 4 – 1968No. 5 – 1975No. 6 – 2006

24 Preludes for piano – 1978 (K. Meyer, ISPV CD 174; – P. Kubica, SMS RP 12691 CD )

Quasi una Fantasia for piano – 2005

For other keyboards

Sonata for harpsichord – 1973 (E. Chojnacka, ERATO Japan CD 056044

Fantasy for organ – 1990 (S. Palm; KR 10068)

For violin solo

Sonata for violino solo – 1975 (W. Marschner, ISPC 192 CD)

6 Preludes for violin solo – 1981

For cello solo

Two Sonatas for Cello

no. 1 – 1961 (R. Korupp, CD Ambitus 97484)no. 2 – 2007

Moment musical – 1976

Monologue – 1990 (D. Geringas; ConBrioDisc ConBES 2019)

For flute solo

Sonata per flauti soli – 1980 (E. Gajewska, Acte Prealable AP0076; – B.-G. Schmitt, ISPV 194 CD)

Essays and professional writings

Krzysztof Meyer, Schostakowitsch – Sein Leben, sein Werk, seine Zeit, Bergisch Gladbach 1995; also: Paris 1994, Amsterdam 1996, Madrid 1997, St Petersburg 1998, Warsaw 1999, Moscow 2006, Mainz 2008. [Orig. in Polish 1973.]

Krzysztof Meyer, Witold Lutoslawski (with Danuta Gwizdalanka), Cracow 2003 (vol. 1), 2004 (vol. 2)

Krzysztof Meyer, Dmitri Schostakowitch. Erfahrungen, Leipzig 1983

Krzysztof Meyer, Prokofjew und Schostakowitsch, in: Bericht uber das internationale Symposion "Sergej Prokofjew – Aspekte seines Werkes und der Biographie", Regensburg 1993, s. 111–133

Krzysztof Meyer, Analyse musikalischer Form in Psychologischer Hinsicht, in: Musikpedagogik als Aufgabe, Kassel 2003

and numerous articles published in Poland and abroad.

Literature

B. M. Maciejewski: 12 Polish Composers. Allegro Press. London, 1976, p. 202-206.

L. Rappoport-Gelfand: Musical Life in Poland. The Postwar Years 1945-1977. Gordon & Breach, New York etc. 1991, p. 133-141. ISBN 2-88124-319-3