Konowalski Benedykt, *21 March 1928 Radom, †27 January 2021 Warsaw, Polish composer and conductor. In 1952, he graduated in law from the University of Warsaw, studied composition under J. Maklakiewicz and T. Szeligowski and conducting under S. Wisłocki at the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw (diplomas: 1960 and 1964). In 1956–72, he was the musical director of the Central Artistic Ensemble of the Polish Army in Warsaw. From 1966, he lectured at the State Higher School of Music (now the Academy of Music) in Warsaw, from 1987 as a professor, in 1984–87 as vice-rector. He was a co-founder and, in 1972–92, chairman of the editorial board of the Agencja Autorska in Warsaw. Konowalski conducted mostly his own compositions. He is a laureate of the MKiS [Ministry of Climate and Environment] Award (1977, 1987) and the Prime Minister’s Award, first degree for artistic creativity and work for children and youth (1979, 1987). He was awarded, among others, the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1980), the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1986) and the Silver Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis (2008).
Two tendencies are visible in Konowalski’s music. One of them is the trend of autonomous works, in which Konowalski used various contemporary compositional techniques but avoided radical solutions, reaching for universal elements of sound language at the same time. Also characteristic of Konowalski are works with historical and occasional themes (Victoria Regis, a composition written on the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Vienna, Symphony No. 2 Requiem dedicated to the memory of the victims of the disasters of the ferries “Heweliusz” and “Estonia”) and biblical (The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah). The second trend consists of works of a functional and utilitarian nature, numerous compositions written for the Central Artistic Ensemble of the Polish Army and other ensembles, such as ballet and operetta scenes, musicals and stage work.
Literature: Dużo to czy mało? Benedykt Konowalski rozmawia o swojej twórczości z Anetą Świder, “Muzyka 21” 2001 No. 10.
Instrumental:
Music for violin solo and percussion instruments, 1960, published in Warsaw 1973
Concert Overture, 1962
Fantasia for trumpet and orchestra, 1969
Mini rondo for oboe, clarinet and bassoon, 1973, published in Warsaw 1974
Stimulans for orchestra, 1974
Dialogi przekorne for clarinet and marimbaphone, 1981, published in Warsaw 1982
Brewerie for orchestra, 1982, published in Warsaw 1982
Dyptyk polski [Polish Diptych] for trombone, 1982, published in Warsaw 1983
Victoria Regis, partita for trombone and organ, 1984, published in Warsaw 1984, 2nd version for mixed choir, trombone and orchestra, 1992
Co jest grane for wind quintet, 1986, published in Warsaw 1986
Diabolo for 3 trumpets and percussion, 1986, published in Warsaw 1986
cycle of 9 pieces for 1–48 violins, 1986–94
Concerto for flute and string orchestra, 1987, published in Warsaw 1989
K-2 for violin and organ, 1987, published in Warsaw 1988; 2nd version for violin, organ and orchestra, 1988
Panta rei for viola and organ, 1988, published in Warsaw 1989
Piano Quintet, 1988, published in Warsaw 1990
Double Concerto for 2 trombones, percussion and string orchestra, 1989
Concerto for 4 flutes, 1989; 2nd version for 4 violins, 1994
Concerto for orchestra, 1990
Śmierć na Mont Blanc for cello and piano, 1990, published in Warsaw 1995
Apage satanas for 2 trumpets, horn and trombone, 1990, published in Warsaw 1995
Viola Concerto, 1991
Życie po życiu for 10 pianos, 1991
Tren pamięci Grażyny Bacewicz for violin and orchestra, 1992
Zagłada Sodomy i Gomory [Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah], symphony for organ and percussion, 1992
Yad Vashem for trombone, 1992
Organ Symphony No. 1 “Katedra Notre Dame”, 1992
Organ Symphony No. 2 “Archikatedra św. Jana w Warszawie”, 1993
Organ Symphony No. 3 “Katedra królewska na Wawelu”, 1993
Organ Symphony No. 4 “Katedra św. Wita w Pradze”, 1993
Concerto for bassoon, percussion and string orchestra, 1993, published in Warsaw 1994
Scherzo warszawskie for 11 instruments, 1993
Kain i Abel for violin and trombone, 1994
Violin Concerto, 1994
Symphony-Requiem No. 2 “Heweliusz” for violin, double bass and orchestra, 1994
Concerto for horn, percussion and string orchestra, 1994
Symphony No. 3 “Sistine” in tribute to Pope John Paul II, 1995
Symphony No. 4 “Bazylika św. Stefana w Budapeszcie”, 1997
Sinfonia sacra No. 6 for cello, double bass and string orchestra, 1998
Symphony No. 7 “Tatra”, 1999
Symphony No. 8 “Concertante” for piano, 2 percussions and string orchestra, 1999
Symphony No. 10 “Ecumenical”, 2001
Symphony No. 11 “Pastoral”, 2002
Umschlagplatz rok 1943 for trombone, 2002
Symphony No. 12 “Warsaw”, 2003
Concerto No. 2 for orchestra, 2003
Symphony No. 17 “Polish”, 2007
Symphony No. 20 “Wawel”, 2010
Fourfold Concerto for alto saxophone, trumpet, 2 percussions and string orchestra, 2011
Concerto for string orchestra, 2011
Symphony No. 28 “Archikatedra św. Jana w Warszawie”, 2012
Symphony No. 38 “Terra vitae”/„Ziemia – planeta życia”, 2015
String Quartet No. 6 “Cztery twarze Kwartetu Wilanów”, 2015
Symphony No. 39 “In memoriam”, 2016
Concerto eroico for violin and chamber orchestra, 2016
Symphony No. 42 “Dialogues” for 4 percussions and string orchestra, 2017
Symphony No. 43 “Symfonia uczuć”, 2018
Vocal, including:
Komputery for children’s choir a cappella, words by J. Holm, 1988, published in Warsaw 1989
Pięć pieśni do słów Norwida for three-voice female choir, 2001
Vocal-instrumental, including:
Dwie pieśni dziecięce [Two Children’s Songs] for soprano, xylophone and piano, words by A.A. Milne, Polish transl. by J. Tuwim, 1958, published in Kraków 1982
Nike Varsoviensis, oratory for voices solo, choir and orchestra, words by J. Przymanowski, 1981
Po kim biją dzwony ranne, cycle for baritone and chamber ensemble, words by J. Iwaszkiewicz, 1982, published in Warsaw 1983
songs for voice and piano, including Pieśni przychodzących, words by A. Grzyb, R. Landowski, J. Stachurski, 1984, published in Warsaw 1985
Dramat w końskiej źrenicy for soprano and instrumental ensemble, words by R. Bratny, 1985, published in Warsaw 1991
Symphony-Requiem No. 1 “Titanic” for mixed choir and orchestra, words by G. Byron and from Latin texts, 1992
Double Concerto for mezzo-soprano or clarinet, flute and string orchestra, 1992
Symphony No. 5 “Galaktyka Andromedy” for female choir and orchestra, 1998
Missa brevis for mixed choir and instrumental ensemble, 2000
Symphony No. 13 “Katharsis” for soprano, alto, mixed choir and orchestra, to texts by Pythagoras, Aristotle and Platon, 2004
Requiem Varsoviae for soprano, bass, narrator, mixed choir and orchestra, 2005
Symphony No. 18 “Królowa Aztecka – Matka Boża z Gwadelupy” for soprano, violin, double bass, 3 percussions and string orchestra, 2009
Człowieczy los, oratory for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed choir and orchestra, 2009
Symphony No. 21 “Królowa Polski Matka Boska z Jasnej Góry” for soprano, alto saxophone, trumpet, mixed choir, 2 percussions and string orchestra, liturgical text, 2011
Symphony No. 26 “Trzy tajemnice” for soprano, baritone and orchestra, 2012
Symphony No. 33 “Witraże” for soprano, alto, baritone and orchestra, 2014
Sursum Corda, oratory for soprano, alto, baritone, narrator, mixed choir and orchestra, 2014
Symphony No. 37 “Przeznaczenia” for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed choir and orchestra, 2015
Symphony No. 40 “W poszukiwaniu eliksiru życia” for soprano, tenor, piano, mixed choir and orchestra, 2016
Symphony No. 41 “Vocalise” for soprano, tenor, baritone, boys’ choir, mixed choir and orchestra, 2017
Symphony No. 44 “Pieśni bez słów” for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and orchestra, 2018
Scenic:
Czterej pancerni i pies, musical, libretto by M. and J. Przymanowski, 1973, staged in Gdynia 1973
Czaromistrze, musical show, libretto by M. and J. Przymanowski, 1977, staged in Warsaw1979
theatre music
Other:
numerous compositions for the Central Artistic Ensemble of the Polish Army
