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Stefan Kisielewski was born on March 7, 1911 in Warsaw. He was a composer, publicist, music writer and critic,
writer, journalist, and teacher. In 1927 he entered the State Conservatory of Music in Warsaw, where he received three
diplomas: in theory (1934, under Kazimierz Sikorski), in composition (1937, also under K. Sikorski) and in
pedagogical piano (1937, under Jerzy Lefeld). He also studied Polish literature and philosophy at Warsaw
University and completed his composition studies in Paris, in the years 1938-39.
Kisielewski began composing in 1932, being also active in other fields. From 1935 to 1937 he was secretary
the editorial staff of the bimonthly "Polish Music" and he contributed criticism to that journal. In
1939 he took the position of musical director of the
Warsaw Broadcasting Station. During the German occupation he worked as an accompanist and music teacher. He
lost the majority of his pre - war compositions during the Warsaw Insurrection. After the Second World War he
settled in Kraków, being active as a composer, teacher and organizer. He lectured on harmony, counterpoint and
instrumentation at the State Higher School of Music in Kraków in the years 1945-49. He was the initiator and first
chief editor of the quarterly Ruch Muzyczny [Musical Movement] in the years 1945-48. Later , in 1957, when Ruch Muzyczny
was reactivated, he belonged to its editorial staff until 1959. Since 1945 he cooperated with the
weekly "Universal Weekly", specializing in journalism and music criticism. He had his column in this publication. In the years
1965-68 he was chief editor of the publication "Syncopation", issued by Art and Film Publishers.
Kisielewski has written a number of fiction books and crime stories, as well as essays and books on music,
politics and literature. Among them are PWM's publication, such as With Music Through the Years - musical
essays (PWM, 1957), Musical Constellation - composers' profiles, vol.1 (PWM, 1959, 4th ed. - 1982), Music
Between Eras (PWM, 1956), Music and the Brain (PWM, 1974).
He was awarded a number of prizes, such as, the First Prize at the Competition for a song to Mickiewicz's words
(for Baktchysarai at Night for voice and piano - 1955), Second Prize at the Polish Music Festival ( for Concerto
for Chamber Orchestra - 1955), Musical Award of the city of Kraków (1956), Musical Award of the Alfred
Jurzykowski Foundation (New York, 1973), Andrzej Strug Award (Warsaw, 1979) and Award of the Polish Composers'
Union for his composer's creative work, as well as writing on music (1982).
For more information about this creative person, a detailed listing of his writing, and his compositions, visit the site maintained by Mr. Soszyński in Britain.
LIST OF WORKS
Orchestral Works
Overture - 1938 (lost)
Symphony No. 1 - 1939 (lost)
Concerto for Chamber Orchestra - 1943 (reconstructed in 1948)
Rustic Rhapsody - 1950
Symphony No. 2 - 1951
Little Overture - 1953
Perpetuum Mobile - 1955
Chamber Symphony - 1956
Ballet Polka, from the ballet "Sunday on the Vistula River" - 1957
Symphony for 15 Performers - 1961
Divertimento for Flute and Chamber Orchestra - 1964
Journey in Time, in 1 movement for string orchestra - 1965
Sports Signals, overture for great symphony orchestra - 1966
Amusement Grounds, symphonic suite from the ballet - 1967
Rencontres dans un desert for 10 instruments - 1969
Cosmos I - 1970
Symphony in a Square - 1978
Chamber Music
String Quartet - 1935 (lost)
Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon - circa 1940 (lost)
Sonata for clarinet - 1944
Suite for flute and clarinet - 1961
Rencontres dans un Desert for 10 performers - 1969
Dialogues for 14 instruments - 1970
Music for Solo Piano
Variations - 1933 (lost)
Sonata No. 1 - 1936 (lost)
Danse Vive - 1939
Prelude and Fugue from Six Preludes and Fugues - 1943 (partly lost)
Toccata - 1943
Serenade - 1945 (1st version), 1974 (2nd version)
Sonata No. 2 - 1945
Fantasy - 1949
Dance Suite - 1951
Rustic Caprice - 1951
Moto Perpetuo - 1953
Suite - 1955
- Prelude
- Prelude
- Minuet
- Gavotte
- Air
- Toccata
The Magic Carriage , music to two excerpts from K.I. Ga³czynski's poem - 1959
- Allegro Cantabile "About a Sailor and a Girl" - for voice and piano
- Allegro Furioso alla Polacca - Waltz "The Drunken Elephant"
Berceuse - 1968
Vocal-Instrumental Music
Tune from the Kurpie Region for women's choir and folk band - 1951
Songs for Voice and Piano
The Osiers - 1943
Five Songs to words by K.I. Ga³czyński - 1952
- Autumn
- A Visit
- A Wild Rose
- Fatamorgana
- Caravan
Seven Songs to words by K.I. Ga³czyński - 1952-54
- Cradle Song of a Cradle
- A Tune
- The Blind Sleepwalker's Prayer
- About Our Household
- Request for Happy Islands
- About My Poetry
- Bazaar
Baktchysarai at Night to words by A. Mickiewicz - 1955
Two Tunes from the Film "The Galoshes of Fortune" to words by S. Mrozek - 1958
- The Galoshes of Fortune
- Recollections from Paris
The Magic Carriage, music to two excerpts from K.I. Ga³czyński's poem - 1959
- Allegro Cantabile "About a Sailor and a Girl"
- Allegro Furioso alla Polacca - Waltz "The Drunken Elephant" - for piano
Mr. Ink-Blot's Extraordinary Adventure, song from the comedy, to a poem by J. Brzechwa - 1967
- Mr. Ink-Blot's Academy
- A First-Class Mechanic
- At Klimontow
- Travel, Travel
- When Famous Guests Arrive
- When You Double Your Strength
- Our Ditty
- Long Live The Cog-wheels !
- Three Fiancees
- All People Should Be Loved
- Phantasy Above All
Instrumental Works with Piano
Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano - 1932
Intermezzo for clarinet and piano - 1951
Suita per Oboe e Pianoforte - 1954
Capriccio Energico for violin and piano - 1956
Sonata for clarinet and piano - 1972
Stage Works
Polish Devils, ballet - 1957
The System of Doctor "Tar" and Professor "Feather", ballet-pantomime in 1 act - 1962
Amusement Grounds, ballet in 1 act - 1967
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Composers
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Center
Send your comments and inquiries to:polmusic@usc.edu
Edited in July 2000 by Ewa Grzegrzulka. Updated on 26 June 2001. |
