Today marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar, one of the most renowned Polish composers of the second half of the 20th century – her original work will undoubtedly go down in the history of Polish music for at least another 100 years. And speaking of recording, on the composer’s birthday, let us recall the most important facts from her biography and work.
Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar (*5 September 1924 Lviv, †27 September 2008 Kraków) graduated from piano studies (under Jan Hoffman) and composition studies (under Stanisław Wiechowicz) in Krakow in 1955. A year before obtaining her diploma, she received her first distinction at a composition competition – in later years, she received many awards at Polish and foreign competitions, including the 1st prize and gold medal at the International Competition for Female Composers in Buenos Aires (1962). A list of the composer’s achievements and more facts about her life can be found in the updated entry of the PWM Music Encyclopaedia dedicated to her: Moszumańska-Nazar Krystyna.
Moszumańska-Nazar’s music is distinguished by its innovative use of contemporary compositional means and unusual instrumentation. An important place in her work is occupied by percussion, both as a solo instrument and as an important part of the orchestral ensemble, often playing a leading role. An example of the virtuoso treatment of percussion is the Concerto for percussion and orchestra, the manuscript of which can be found on our website: Concerto for percussion and symphony orchestra.
The sheet music collections of the Polish Music Library also include editions of other pieces from the composer’s very diverse oeuvre – from the early stage of her work (3 Miniatures for clarinet and piano), through the experimental-sonoristic period (2 Dialogues for instrumental ensemble), to chamber pieces for unusual ensembles, characteristic of Moszumańska-Nazar (Bel canto for soprano, celesta and percussion).
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