Sikorski, Kazimierz (EN)

Sikorski Kazimierz, *28 June 1895 Zurich, †23 July 1986 Warsaw, composer, theoretician and teacher. In 1914–19, he studied at the WTM Music School (since 1919 the F. Chopin Higher School of Music), obtaining a diploma in composition in F. Szopski’s class, and in 1915–21 at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Warsaw, where he received a certificate of completion. In 1921, he began musicological studies with A. Chybiński in Lviv; in the same year, he became a lecturer at the H. Kijeńska-Dobkiewiczowa Music Conservatory in Łódź. In 1925–26 and 1930, he studied composition with N. Boulanger in Paris as a scholarship holder of the MWRiOP. From 1926 to 1927, he lectured on music theory and composition at the State Conservatory of Music in Poznań. In 1927–39, he was a professor of composition and music theory at the State Conservatory of Music in Warsaw, and in 1927–29 a member of the board of the Association of Early Music Lovers [Stowarzyszenie Miłośników Dawnej Muzyki] in Warsaw, in 1929–39 a teacher of theoretical subjects and a member of the management of the Holiday Music Centre [Wakacyjne Ognisko Muzyczne] in Krzemieniec. From 1940 to 1944, he served as a teacher and deputy director of the Staatliche Musikschule in Warschau, which was in fact an underground music conservatory with a full pre-war curriculum. In 1941–44, he was also a member of the music section of the Conspiracy Theatre Council [Konspiracyjna Rada Teatralna]. After the war, he first worked at the State Higher School of Music in Łódź: in 1945–59 as a professor of composition and theoretical subjects, in 1945–47 as dean of the Faculty of Composition, Theory and Conducting, and in 1947–54 as rector. In the 1950s, he also started teaching at the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw: in 1951–68 he lectured on theoretical subjects and composition, from 1955 as a professor, from 1957 as head of the department of harmony and counterpoint, and from 1957 to 1966 as rector. On 24 May 1975, he received the first honorary doctorate in the history of the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw. Throughout his life, Sikorski held important managerial positions in many musical institutions and organisations, namely: 1928–29 member of the MWRiOP Opinion Committee, 1928–30 deputy president, from 1938 president of the Polish section of MTMW, 1928–39 member of TWMP (chairman of the Publishing Committee, 1935 member of the board, 1938 president), 1929–39 founding member of the Association of Polish Composers (from 1932 member of the board) and the Professional Music Press Club, 1932 member of the jury of the Olympic competition before the Olympics in Los Angeles, 1935–39 vice-president of the classical music section of ZAIKS, 1936–39 member of the Artistic Council of the Warsaw Opera, 1937–39 president of the K. Szymanowski Society in Warsaw, 1928–33 and 1948–50 co-editor of “Kwartalnik Muzyczny,” 1934–39 co-editor of “Muzyka Polska,” from 1956 member of the editorial committee of “Rocznik Chopinowski” and Complete Works of S. Moniuszko, from 1952 member of the Program Council of PWM, 1954–59 president of ZKP, 1957–63 chairman of the Program Committee of the subject “music education” in comprehensive schools, 1964 chairman of the Scientific Council of TIFC, 1972–80 president of the management board of this society, 1963–66 member of the Council of Higher Artistic Education, and in 1965 chairman of the Polish Music Council. He was a juror in many composition competitions and chairman of the jury of the F. Chopin International Piano Competitions in Warsaw in 1970 and 1975. He was awarded honorary memberships: in 1971 ZKP, in 1977 WTM, in 1983 of the K. Szymanowski Musical Society in Zakopane, and in 1981 – honorary president of TIFC.

Awards: 1935 State Music Award, 1951 and 1975 ZKP awards, 1948 3^rd prize at the K. Szymanowski Competition in Katowice for Symphonic Allegro, 1951 2^nd degree state prize for music for the film Warszawska Premiera, 1951 2^nd prize at the 1^st Polish Music Festival in Warsaw for Concerto for horn and small orchestra, 1955 2^nd prize at the Polish Music Festival, 1955 1^st state prize, 1955 MKiS award for Symphony No. 3 and Concerto for clarinet and orchestra, 1959 Music Award of the capital city of Warsaw, 1964 MKiS 1^st degree award, 1981 Jurzykowski Award. Decorations: 1937 Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, 1952 Gold Cross of Merit, 1955 Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, 1960 Order of the Banner of Labour, 1^st class, 1966 Millennium Badge and Meritorious Cultural Activist, 1976 Łódź Badge of Honor, 1980 Distinguished Teacher of the Polish People’s Republic.

As a composer, Kazimierz Sikorski emerged from the circle of post-romantic tendencies, but he always had a favourable attitude towards new music. His work developed evolutionary, from late romantic style (Symphony No. 1, String Sextet) to neoclassical (7 concertos for wind instruments) and non-avant-garde contemporary style (Concerto for bassoon and orchestra, based on the dodecaphonic technique). Sikorski’s works are characterised by a wealth of means: simple homophony alongside sophisticated polyphony, archaization and frequent use of Polish folklore, combining strict forms with expressive values ​​and lyricism (e.g. in Symphony No. 3, considered one of the composer’s greatest achievements, baroque formal scheme and modal melody combined with neo-romantic expression). His works are characterised by a logical structure and clear texture (choral songs a cappella). Kazimierz Sikorski was the founder of the Polish school of composition, in which the emphasis was placed on the development of individual creative predispositions, supported by perfect mastery of the compositional technique. He did not impose a specific style on his students and accepted their attempts to find their way in modern times. He believed that “…the most important principle that should apply to every creator, regardless of their search for modernity, is the principle of respect for tradition, without which there is no progress.” (Z. Sierpiński Szczerość wypowiedzi). He educated approximately 50 composers and music theorists. His students included G. Bacewicz, J. Bruzdowicz, T. Baird, J. Ekier, S. Kisielewski, A. Koszewski, Z. Krauze, J. Krenz, R. Maciejewski, A. Malawski, M. Małecki, B. Matuszczak, T. Paciorkiewicz, R. Padlewski, R. Palester, A. Panufnik, K. Regamey, K. Serocki, T. Sikorski, M. Spisak, H. Swolkień, A. Szaliński, A. Szałowski, M. Zalewski.

Kazimierz Sikorski has made great contributions to the creation of pedagogical literature, both practical and theoretical. Almost all of his compositional work was closely related to his teaching activities. Solo concertos, which are actually concertante symphonies, have both great performing and pedagogical values. Sikorski was always interested in the musical education of children and youth. Already in the interwar period, he participated in the work of the Constitutional and Program Committee of the Ministry of Regional and Environmental Protection [MWRiOP] and was a co-creator of the reform of music education, which was implemented only in 1946. He recorded his extensive knowledge and pedagogical experience in textbooks, which in the post-war period filled an acute gap in the needs of music education in Poland. His textbooks on harmony, counterpoint and instrument studies constitute an excellent compendium of music theory, intended for the teacher rather than the student, thanks to their extremely detailed and extensive treatment of the subject. The undertaken musicological studies and many years of contact with A. Chybiński resulted in fruitful editorial cooperation in musicological journals and editorial cooperation in the field of early Polish music. His basso continuo performances in several dozen published works are characterised by excellent knowledge of style and high contrapuntal skill. Sikorski’s compositional legacy can be found in the National Library in Warsaw.

Literature: H. Feicht Kazimierz Sikorski jako teoretyk propedeutyki i kompozycji, “Studia Muzykologiczne” V, 1956; Z. Sierpiński Szczerość wypowiedzi, interview with Kazimierz Sikorski, “Tygodnik Demokratyczny” 1981 no. 15; Kazimierz Sikorski. Życie i twórczość. W 100-lecie urodzin Profesora, ed. H. Kowalczyk and K. Jaraczewska-Mockałło, Warsaw 1995 (includes complete bibliography).