Andrzej Panufnik (1914 -1991)
Andrzej
Panufnik was living proof that genius is exportable. Without
compromising his Polish roots, he became a British citizen, and
eventually reached full stature as a composer in his adopted country,
but it was not an easy transition. Son of a leading violinmaker, he
studied with Sikorski at the Warsaw Conservatory and Weingartner in
Vienna. After the Nazi invasion of Poland, he kept the creative spark
alive in the Polish underground, where he became a friend of Witold
Lutoslawski and was conductor of the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra from
1945 to 1946. By 1954, Panufnik was Poland's leading composer, but
Russian domination was making artistic freedom impossible; in 1956,
while on a recording trip to Switzerland, he boarded a flight to London
with no intention of returning to his native country. For some years,
he was treated coldly by the British musical intelligentsia. His style
was neither traditionally tonal nor fashionably serial; but it
certainly sounded "un-British," and for nine years, none of his music
was broadcast by the BBC. (American audiences were to prove more
responsive). At his home in Twickenham near the River Thames, Panufnik
continued to work on symphonies constructed from small cells of two or
three notes arranged in geometric forms, somewhat akin to
Webern. Much of his work reflects the sufferings of the war and
its aftermath. It is easy to see why Panufnik would not have survived
as an artist under a Stalinist dictatorship. The composer exacted his
own bleak revenge: Katyn Epitaph (premiered by Stokowski in 1968) exposed the massacre of 15,000 Polish officers executed on Stalin's orders. Sinfonia Votiva
(premiered in Boston by Seiji Ozawa in 1982) celebrates the popular
uprising against Communist rule in the form of a votive offering to the
"black Madonna," a statue in Gdansk where the first blows for Polish
freedom were struck. After the solo cadenza that opens the 1972 Violin Concerto
written for Yehudi Menuhin, the soloist is (unusually) allowed to
decide both the tempo and overall interpretation of the whole work,
perhaps yet another symbol of the freedom Panufnik had demonstrated by
his own self-exile. After the collapse of Communism in Poland,
Panufnik's reputation there was quickly re-established, and his music
became part of the militant modernism for which the country was noted
in the liberalization that followed. In Britain, where he conducted the
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 1957 to 1959, his music
became gradually better-known, with performances in London of the Symphony of the Spheres (1976) and Ninth Symphony (1987). When
his last work, a cello concerto written for Rostropovich, was played in
London in 1990, Panufnik had achieved full recognition in his adopted
country. In 1987, he wrote a revealing biography called Composing Myself.- Roy Brewer/allmusic
COMPOSITIONS Andrzej Panufnik Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
Classical Suite, string quartet (1933; lost in 1944)
Variations, piano (1933; lost in 1944)
Piano Trio, violin, cello and piano (1934; lost in 1944; reconstructed 1945; rev. 1977)
Symphonic Variations, orchestra (1935-36; lost in 1944)
Symphonic Allegro, orchestra (1936; lost in 1944)
Symphonic Image, orchestra (1936; lost in 1944)
Psalm, soloist, chorus and orchestra (1936; lost in 1944) [Panufnik's diploma piece]
Little Overture, orchestra (c. 1937; lost in 1944)
Strachy, film score (1938)
Symphony No. 1, orchestra (1939; lost in 1944; reconstructed 1945; subsequently withdrawn and destroyed by the composer)
Five Polish Peasant Songs, sopranos (or trebles), 2 fl, 2 cl & bass cl (1940; lost 1944; reconstr'd 1945; rev. 1959) [text: anon. Polish]
Symphony No. 2, orchestra (1941; lost in 1944)
Tragic Overture, orchestra (1942; lost in 1944; reconstructed 1945; rev. 1955)
Four Underground Resistance Songs, voice or unison voices and piano (1943-44) [text: Stanisław Ryszard Dobrowolski]
Divertimento, string orchestra (1947; rev. 1955) [adapted from music by Felix Janiewicz]
Lullaby, orchestra (1947; rev. 1955)
Nocturne, orchestra (1947; rev. 1955)
Twelve Miniature Studies, piano (1947) [originally titled "Circle of Fifths"] [Book I; rev. 1955/Book II; rev. 1964]
Sinfonia Rustica (Symphony No. 1), orchestra (1948; rev. 1955)
Hommage à Chopin, 5 vocalises for soprano and piano (1949; rev. 1955) [originally titled "Suita Polska"]
- Hommage à Chopin, flute and small string orchestra (1949; 1966 arrangement of vocal work)
Old Polish Suite, orchestra (1950; rev. 1955) [based on sixteenth and seventeenth century Polish works]
Symphony of Peace, chorus and orchestra (1951; withdrawn) [text: Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz]
Concerto in modo antico, solo trumpet, 2 harps, harpsichord and string orchestra (1951; rev. 1955)
[originally titled Koncert Gotycki, "Gothic Concerto"] [based on early Polish works]
Heroic Overture, orchestra (1952; rev. 1969)
Quintetto Accademico, flute, oboe, 2 clarinets and bassoon (1953; rev. 1956; lost, but rediscovered in 1994)
Rhapsody, orchestra (1956)
Sinfonia Elegiaca (Symphony No. 2), orchestra (1957; rev. 1966) (incorporates material from the discarded "Symphony of Peace")
Polonia, orchestra (1959)
Autumn Music, 3 flutes, 3 clarinets, percussion, celesta, piano, harp, violas, cellos and double basses (1962; rev. 1965)
Landscape, string orchestra (1962; rev. 1965)
Piano Concerto (1962, rev. 1970, re-composed 1972; first movement "Intrada" added 1982)
Sinfonia Sacra (Symphony No. 3), orchestra (1963)
Two Lyric Pieces (1963) [no. 1: woodwinds and brass; no. 2: strings] [for young players]
Song to the Virgin Mary, chorus or six solo voices (1964; rev. 1969) [text: anonymous Latin] [also arr. for str sextet]
- Song to the Virgin Mary, string sextet (1964) [1987 arrangement of vocal work]
Jagiellonian Triptych, string orchestra (1966) [based on early Polish works]
Katyń Epitaph, orchestra (1967; rev. 1969)
Cain and Abel, ballet (1968) [a reworking of "Sinfonia Sacra" & "Tragic Overture", w/new material] [chorg: Kenneth MacMillan]
Reflections, piano (1968)
Universal Prayer, soprano, alto, tenor, bass, chorus, 3 harps and organ (1968-69) [text: Alexander Pope]
Thames Pageant, cantata, young players and singers (1969) [text: Camilla Jessel]
Miss Julie, ballet (1970) [reworking of "Nocturne, Rhapsody, Autumn Music" & "Polonia", w/ new material][chorg: K. MacMillan]
Violin Concerto (1971)
Invocation for Peace, trebles, 2 trumpets and 2 trombones (1972) [also arr. for chorus or 5 solo voices] [for young performers]
Winter Solstice, soprano, baritone, chorus, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and glockenspiel (1972) [text: Camilla Jessel]
Triangles, 3 flutes and 3 cellos (1972)
Sinfonia Concertante (Symphony No. 4), flute, harp and small string orchestra (1973)
Sinfonia di Sfere (Symphony No. 5), orchestra (1974-75)
String Quartet No. 1 (1976)
Love Song, mezzo-soprano and harp (or piano) (1976) [arr. for voice, harp (or pf) and str orch, 1991] [text: Sir Philip Sidney]
Sinfonia Mistica (Symphony No. 6) (1977)
Dreamscapes, mezzo-soprano and piano (1977) [wordless]
Metasinfonia (Symphony No. 7), solo organ, timpani and string orchestra (1978)
Concerto Festivo, orchestra (without conductor) (1979)
Concertino, timpani, percussion and string orchestra (1979-80)
Paean, brass ensemble (1980)
String Quartet No. 2, "Messages" (1980)
Paean, brass ensemble (1980)
Sinfonia Votiva (Symphony No. 8), orchestra (1981; rev. 1984)
A Procession for Peace, orchestra (1982-83) [for young players]
Arbor Cosmica, 12 string soloists, or string orchestra (1983)
Pentasonata, piano (1984)
Bassoon Concerto, bassoon and small orchestra (1985)
Symphony No. 9, "Sinfonia di Speranza", orchestra (1986; rev. 1987)
String Sextet, "Train of Thoughts" (1987)
Symphony No. 10, orchestra (1988; rev. 1990)
Harmony, a poem for chamber orchestra (1989)
Prayer to the Virgin of Skempe, solo voice or unison chorus & organ (or pf; or instr'l ensemble (1990) [text: Jerzy Peterkiewicz]
String Quartet No. 3, "Wycinanki" (Paper Cuts) (1990)
Cello Concerto (1991)
WORKS BY GENRE Andrzej Panufnik Links ~ top of page ~
Ballet
Elegy, ballet (fp. 1967) [choreographer: Gerald Arpino; to "Sinfonia Elegiaca"]
Cain and Abel, ballet (1968) [a reworking of "Sinfonia Sacra" & "Tragic Overture", w/new material] [chorg: Kenneth MacMillan]
Miss Julie, ballet (1970) [reworking of "Nocturne, Rhapsody, Autumn Music" & "Polonia", w/ new material][chorg: K. MacMillan]
Autumn Music, ballet (fp. 1974) [choreographer: David Drew]
The Archaic Moon, ballet (fp. 1978) [choreographer: Norman Walker; to "Rhapsody"]
Homage to Chopin, ballet (fp. 1980) [choreographer: David Bintley; to "Hommage à Chopin" and Masurek from "Polonia"]
Adieu, ballet (fp. 1980) [choreographer: David Bintley; to "Violin Concerto"]
Dances of the Golden Hall, ballet (fp. 1982) [choreographer: Martha Graham; to "Nocturne"]
Bogurodzica, ballet (fp. 1983) [choreographer: Gray Veredon; to "Sinfonia Sacra"]
Common Prayer, ballet (fp. 1983) [choreographer: Robert Cohan; to "Sinfonia Sacra"]
Sinfonia Mistica, ballet (fp. 1987) [choreographer: Paul Mejia]
Sacred Symphony, ballet (fp. 1991) [choreographer: Christopher Hindle; to "Sinfonia Sacra"]
Vincent Van Gogh, TV ballet (fp. ????) [choreographer: Raimondo Fornoni; to "Sinfonia Sacra"]
Stop It, ballet (fp. 1993) [choreographer: Krzysztof Pastor; to "Violin Concerto"]
Orchestra
Symphonic Variations, orchestra (1935-36; lost in 1944)
Symphonic Allegro, orchestra (1936; lost in 1944)
Symphonic Image, orchestra (1936; lost in 1944)
Little Overture, orchestra (c. 1937; lost in 1944)
Symphony No. 1, orchestra (1939; lost in 1944; reconstructed 1945; subsequently withdrawn and destroyed by the composer)
Symphony No. 2, orchestra (1941; lost in 1944)
Tragic Overture, orchestra (1942; lost in 1944; reconstructed 1945; rev. 1955)
Divertimento, string orchestra (1947; rev. 1955) [adapted from music by Felix Janiewicz]
Lullaby, orchestra (1947; rev. 1955)
Nocturne, orchestra (1947; rev. 1955)
Sinfonia Rustica (Symphony No. 1), orchestra (1948; rev. 1955)
Old Polish Suite, orchestra (1950; rev. 1955) [based on sixteenth and seventeenth century Polish works]
Heroic Overture, orchestra (1952; rev. 1969)
Rhapsody, orchestra (1956)
Sinfonia Elegiaca (Symphony No. 2), orchestra (1957; rev. 1966) (incorporates material from the discarded "Symphony of Peace")
Polonia, orchestra (1959)
Autumn Music, 3 flutes, 3 clarinets, percussion, celesta, piano, harp, violas, cellos and double basses (1962; rev. 1965)
Landscape, string orchestra (1962; rev. 1965)
Sinfonia Sacra (Symphony No. 3), orchestra (1963)
Jagiellonian Triptych, string orchestra (1966) [based on early Polish works]
Katyń Epitaph, orchestra (1967; rev. 1969)
Sinfonia Concertante (Symphony No. 4), flute, harp and small string orchestra (1973)
Sinfonia di Sfere (Symphony No. 5), orchestra (1974-75)
Sinfonia Mistica (Symphony No. 6) (1977)
Metasinfonia (Symphony No. 7), solo organ, timpani and string orchestra (1978)
Concerto Festivo, orchestra (without conductor) (1979)
Paean, brass ensemble (1980)
Sinfonia Votiva (Symphony No. 8), orchestra (1981; rev. 1984)
A Procession for Peace, orchestra (1982-83) [for young players]
Arbor Cosmica, 12 string soloists, or string orchestra (1983)
Symphony No. 9, "Sinfonia di Speranza", orchestra (1986; rev. 1987)
Symphony No. 10, orchestra (1988; rev. 1990)
Harmony, a poem for chamber orchestra (1989)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Hommage à Chopin, flute and small string orchestra (1949; 1966 arrangement of vocal work)
Concerto in modo antico, solo trumpet, 2 harps, harpsichord and string orchestra (1951; rev. 1955)
[originally titled Koncert Gotycki, "Gothic Concerto"] [based on early Polish works]
Piano Concerto (1962, rev. 1970, re-composed 1972; first movement "Intrada" added 1982)
Violin Concerto (1971)
Sinfonia Concertante (Symphony No. 4), flute, harp and small string orchestra (1973)
Metasinfonia (Symphony No. 7), solo organ, timpani and string orchestra (1978)
Concertino, timpani, percussion and string orchestra (1979-80)
Arbor Cosmica, 12 string soloists, or string orchestra (1983)
Bassoon Concerto, bassoon and small orchestra (1985)
Cello Concerto (1991)
Chorus w/Orchestra
Psalm, soloist, chorus and orchestra (1936; lost in 1944) [Panufnik's diploma piece]
Symphony of Peace, chorus and orchestra (1951; withdrawn) [text: Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz]
Choral
Five Polish Peasant Songs, sopranos (or trebles), 2 fl, 2 cl & bass cl (1940; lost 1944; reconstr'd 1945; rev. 1959) [text: anon. Polish]
Four Underground Resistance Songs, voice or unison voices and piano (1943-44) [text: Stanisław Ryszard Dobrowolski]
Song to the Virgin Mary, chorus or six solo voices (1964; rev. 1969) [text: anonymous Latin] [also arr. for str sextet]
Universal Prayer, soprano, alto, tenor, bass, chorus, 3 harps and organ (1968-69) [text: Alexander Pope]
Thames Pageant, cantata, young players and singers (1969) [text: Camilla Jessel]
Invocation for Peace, trebles, 2 trumpets and 2 trombones (1972) [also arr. for chorus or 5 solo voices] [for young performers]
Winter Solstice, soprano, baritone, chorus, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and glockenspiel (1972) [text: Camilla Jessel]
Prayer to the Virgin of Skempe, solo voice or unison chorus & organ (or pf; or instr'l ensemble (1990) [text: Jerzy Peterkiewicz]
Chamber
Classical Suite, string quartet (1933; lost in 1944)
Piano Trio, violin, cello and piano (1934; lost in 1944; reconstructed 1945; rev. 1977)
Quintetto Accademico, flute, oboe, 2 clarinets and bassoon (1953; rev. 1956; lost, but rediscovered in 1994)
Two Lyric Pieces (1963) [no. 1: woodwinds and brass; no. 2: strings] [for young players]
Song to the Virgin Mary, string sextet (1964) [1987 arrangement of vocal work]
Triangles, 3 flutes and 3 cellos (1972)
String Quartet No. 1 (1976)
String Quartet No. 2, "Messages" (1980)
Paean, brass ensemble (1980)
Arbor Cosmica, 12 string soloists, or string orchestra (1983)
String Sextet, "Train of Thoughts" (1987)
String Quartet No. 3, "Wycinanki" (Paper Cuts) (1990)
Piano
Variations, piano (1933; lost in 1944)
Twelve Miniature Studies, piano [originally titled "Circle of Fifths"]
- Book I (1947; rev. 1955)
- Book II (1947; rev. 1964)
Reflections, piano (1968)
Pentasonata, piano (1984)
Vocal
Four Underground Resistance Songs, voice or unison voices and piano (1943-44) [text: Stanisław Ryszard Dobrowolski]
Hommage à Chopin, 5 vocalises for soprano and piano (1949; rev. 1955) [originally titled "Suita Polska"]
Song to the Virgin Mary, chorus or six solo voices (1964; rev. 1969) [text: anonymous Latin] [also arr. for str sextet]
Invocation for Peace, trebles, 2 trumpets and 2 trombones (1972) [also arr. for chorus or 5 solo voices] [for young performers]
Love Song, mezzo-soprano and harp (or piano) (1976) [arr. for voice, harp (or pf) and str orch, 1991] [text: Sir Philip Sidney]
Dreamscapes, mezzo-soprano and piano (1977) [wordless]
Prayer to the Virgin of Skempe, solo voice or unison chorus & organ (or pf; or instr'l ensemble (1990) [text: Jerzy Peterkiewicz]
Incidental/Film
Trzy etiudy Chopina, documentary short film (1937) [music consultant]
Strachy, film score (1938)
Drzewa (1996) [music used in film soundtrack: "Arbor Cosmica"]
ANDRZEJ PANUFNIK LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Andrzej Panufnik: A Journey Around My Father (Krakow Post)
Andrzej Panufnik: Composer Who Fled Native Poland Over Repression (Los Angeles Times)
Contemporary Polish Music (Polish Institute)
Sir Andrzej Panufnik - Obituary (The Telegraph)
The Symphonies of Andrzej Panufnik (Paul Conway, Musicweb International)
Composer's website . . . inquire about Andrzej Panufnik: here
Andrzej Panufnik @ Wikipedia
Andrzej Panufnik @ Answers.com
Andrzej Panufnik @ Audiophile Audition (via Google Advanced Search)
Andrzej Panufnik @ CITWF / Complete Index to World Film
Andrzej Panufnik @ Classical Archives
Andrzej Panufnik @ Classical Composers Database
Andrzej Panufnik @ ClassicsToday
Andrzej Panufnik @ culture.pl
Andrzej Panufnik @ Facebook
Andrzej Panufnik @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Andrzej Panufnik @ infopoland
Andrzej Panufnik @ InstantEncore
Andrzej Panufnik @ Jimmosk's Unknown Composers
Andrzej Panufnik @ June Mendoza - Portrait Artist
Andrzej Panufnik @ Malcolm Smith
Andrzej Panufnik @ MusicWeb International also here
Andrzej Panufnik @ MySpaceMusic
Andrzej Panufnik @ Naxos
Andrzej Panufnik @ The New York Times
Andrzej Panufnik @ Nonesuch Records
Andrzej Panufnik @ Polish Music Center
Andrzej Panufnik @ Polish Music Information Centre
Andrzej Panufnik @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Publisher
Andrzej Panufnik @ Boosey & Hawkes
Streaming Audio
Andrzej Panufnik @ Classical Archives
Andrzej Panufnik @ infopoland
Andrzej Panufnik @ Jimmosk's Unknown Composers
Andrzej Panufnik @ last.fm
Andrzej Panufnik @ MySpaceMusic
Andrzej Panufnik @ Rhapsody.com
Recordings
Andrzej Panufnik @ ArkivMusic
Andrzej Panufnik @ ClassicsOnline
Andrzej Panufnik @ Discogs
Andrzej Panufnik @ Naxos
Andrzej Panufnik @ Nonesuch Records
Video
Andrzej Panufnik @ YouTube
Andrzej Panufnik @ Google Video
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