Chyrzyński Marcel, *26 November 1971 in Częstochowa, Polish composer. In 1990–95, he studied at the Academy of Music in Krakow – composition with M. Stachowski, instrumentation with K. Penderecki, and computer music with M. Chołoniewski and Fulbright Foundation scholarship holders: R. Boulanger, C. McTee, and R. Oaks. He honed his creative skills during composition courses in Poland and abroad under the guidance of S. Bussotti, Ch. Lefebvre, J. Yuasa, B. Schaeffer, L. Zielińska, and H. Kulenta, among others. Since 1999, he has been teaching composition and instrumentation at the Academy of Music in Krakow. Chyrzyński’s works have been presented at numerous festivals, including the Silesian Days of Contemporary Music in Katowice (1994, 2000), the Days of Music by Krakow Composers (1995–99), Warsaw Autumn (1996), Internationale Studienwoche für zeitgenössische Musik in Hamburg (1995), and Florida International University Music Festival in Miami (2000), as well as at a concert of Polish and Australian music in Sydney (1998) and at the Midem Classique 2000 international fair in Cannes. He is a laureate of many competitions, including first prize in the 3rd A. Didur National Composers’ Competition in Sanok in 1994, first prize in the T. Baird Young Composers’ Competition in Warsaw in 1997, and – a distinction in the Composers’ Competition of Program II of Polish Radio in Warsaw (for Piece for Orchestra).
Chyrzyński, drawing on an arsenal of various means typical of postmodernism, such as quotation, pseudo-quotation, stylization, and playing with conventions, and in his polystylistic references reaching for jazz and alternative trends in mass culture (techno, acid jazz, jungle, etc.), maintains stylistic distinctiveness and coherence of form in his works. In addition to traditional instruments, he uses the latest computer techniques, sound processing, and synthesizers. Chyrzyński’s instrumental compositions particularly often highlight the tonal, harmonic, and expressive qualities of the clarinet. A distinctly individual trait is present in his works from the second half of the 1990s. They are characterized by a slowed-down tempo, a multidimensional but coherent narrative, thoughtful dramaturgy, and a special type of expression that evokes mystery and suppressed emotion.
Compositions:
Miniature for solo clarinet, 1988
3 preludes for clarinet and piano, 1990
Extended Perception of Echo for string orchestra, 1992
I Do Remember… for soprano and string quartet, 1992
Haiku for voice, clarinet/EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument), processing and computer, 1993
La musique d’adieu for string orchestra, 1993
3 dialogues for oboe and bassoon, 1994
Coś tam underground for trumpet, viola, double bass, percussion, and computer, 1994
Four Love Lyrics for baritone and piano, 1994
Quasi Kwazi I for solo clarinet, 1994
ABC des Esefisg for cello, trombone, harp, piano and percussion, 1995
Piece for Orchestra, 1995
In C for clarinet, viola/cello and piano, 1996
Psalm 88 for unaccompanied mixed choir, 1996
Überraschung Cfaj for clarinet, processing, 2 synthesizers and computer, 1996
Ferragosto for trumpet, piano and percussion, 1997
…similes esse bestiis for unaccompanied mixed choir, 1997
Quasi Kwazi II for solo clarinet, 1997
Quasi Kwazi III for solo clarinet, 1998
Screensaver for trumpet and percussion, 1999
Chamber Concerto 2000 for clarinet and string orchestra, 2000
Concerto 2000 for clarinet and orchestra, 2000
ForMS… for solo cello, 2001
Reflection no. 1 for string quartet, 2003, commissioned by the “Amar Corde” String Quartet, first performance Stockholm 21 August 2003, performed by “Amar Corde”, lineup: Barbara Stuhr (first violin), Bogusława Ziegelheim (second violin), Beata Płoska (viola), Agata Sanchez-Martos (cello); published in Krakow 2006 PWM Edition
Reflection no. 2 for solo harpsichord, 2005, first performance Krakow 3 March 2005, performed by M. Chmielowska; published in Kraków 2010 PWM Edition
Ukiyo-e for string orchestra, 2012, published in Krakow 2018 PWM Edition
Dance of Death for clarinet and piano, 2013, first performance Mexico City 23 September 2013, performed by Maciej Bosak (clarinet) and Laura Elizabeth Hauer (piano); first performance in Poland, Lublin 22 May 2014, performed by SoundArtDuo, lineup: Barbara Borowicz (clarinet) and Anna Miernik (piano); published in Krakow 2014 PWM Edition
Psalm 23 (Dominus Regit Me) for unaccompanied mixed choir, 2013, first performance Warsaw 21 April 2014, performed by The Polish Radio Choir, conductor W. Siedlik, published in Krakow 2016 PWM Edition
Kolędy [Christmas Carols] in an easy arrangement for piano, published in Krakow 2014
Betelgeuse for violin, cello and piano, commisioned by Stowarzyszenie „Porta Musicae”, first performed in Krakow 2 October 2014, performed by Ilona Nieciąg (violin), Beata Urbanek-Kalinowska (cello), Gajusz Kęska (piano), published in Krakow 2025 PWM Edition
Death in Venice for clarinet, cello and piano, 2017, first performance Los Angeles 15 October 2017, performed by Andrew Leonard (clarinet), Jan Kalinowski (cello), Marek Szlezer (piano), published in Krakow 2017 PWM Edition
Haiku no. 3 for flute, 2018, first performance in Krakow 6 September 2019, published in Krakow 2020 PWM Edition
Reflection no. 5 for clarinet and string quartet, 2018, commisioned by the organisers fo the Seoul International Music Festival, first performance in Seul 7 November 2018, performed by Michel Lethiec (clarinet), Olivier Charlier (first violin), Saskia Lethiec (second violin), Karine Lethiec (viola), Jung-Ran Lee (cello), published in Krakow 2024 PWM Edition
Mojave for clarinet, cello, percussion and piano, 2019, first performance in Los Angeles 26 March 2022, performed by Espen Nystog Aas (clarinet), Jan Kalinowski (cello), Zoe Beyler (percussion), Marek Szlezer (piano), published in Krakow 2022 PWM Edition
Adagio Krzysztof Penderecki in memoriam for string orchestra, 2020, commisioned by Filharmonia Śląska im. H.M. Góreckiego w Katowicach, first performance in Katowice 19 June 2020, performed by Orkiestra Filharmonii Śląskiej, conductor Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk, ublished in Krakow 2022 PWM Edition
Reflection no. 8 for piano, 2021, dedicated to I. Lisiecki, first performance Japan 25 July 2021, performed by I. Lisiecki (piano), published in Krakow 2023 PWM Edition
9/11 Elegy for cello (viola) and piano, 2022, commissioned by Cracow Duo: Kalinowski & Szlezer, first performance in Daegu 19 November 2022, published in Krakow 2024 PWM Edition
Karatachi no Hana for piano, 2022, commisioned by the board of the Yanagawa Shimin Bunka Kaikan, dedicated to Hakushū Kitahara, first performance Yanagawa 24 April 2022, performed by I. Lisiecki (piano), published in Krakow 2025 PWM Edition
Daeguscape for violin, viola, and cello , 2023,commisioned by the organisers of the Modern Ensemble Festival, first permormed in Daegu 8 October 2023, published in Krakow 2024 PWM Edition
Ukiyo-e No. 6. Koncert for violin and string orchestra, 2024, commisioned and dedicated to Orkiestra Stołecznego Królestwa Miasta Krakowa „Sinfonietta Cracovia”, first performance in Krakow 19 July 2024, Maciej Lulek (violin), performed by Sinfonietta Cracovia, conductor Katarzyna Tomala-Jedynak, published in Krakow 2024 PWM Edition
Mindscape no. 1 for string quartet, commisioned by the organisers of Festiwal Prawykonań w Katowicach, first performed in Katowice 14 March 2025, performed by Kwartet Śląski, Szymon Krzeszowiec (I violin), Arkadiusz Kubica (II violin), Łukasz Syrnicki (viola), Piotr Janosik (cello), wyd. published in Krakow 2025 PWM Edition
