Henryk Mikolaj Górecki
1933 - 2010
A Polish composer, whose name and music remained largely unknown in the West until the fall of communism in 1980’s.
Life and Music
- Górecki finally achieved fame in the 1990s with the recording of his Third Symphony – ‘Symphony of Sorrowful Songs’ by soprano Dawn Upshaw and the London Sinfonietta. Since its release in 1992, the recording has sold over a million copies worldwide.
- Henryk Górecki’s compositional style was far more experimental in the early stage of his career.
- His training at Katowice Academy of Music led to his Symphony No. 1 and Scontri, both of which were characterised by a harsh, inharmonious sound.
- Despite achieving fame later in life, his music has gone on to touch the lives of many and his legacy will undoubtedly live on.
Did you know?
By the mid-1970s, a growing love of Polish folk music and medieval Polish chants mellowed Górecki’s music. His dedication to the Catholic Church led to a search for greater purity and a more transparent style.
