Koszewski Andrzej, *26 July 1922 Poznań, †17 February 2015 Poznań, Polish composer and musicologist. In 1935–39, he was a member of the Poznań Cathedral Choir under the direction of W. Gieburowski. In 1946–53, he studied at the PWSM in Poznań in the class of S.B. Poradowski (obtaining a diploma in theory in 1948, and in composition in 1953). In 1950, he completed his studies in musicology under the supervision of A. Chybiński at the UAM in Poznań. In 1953–58, he completed his postgraduate studies with T. Szeligowski at the PWSM in Warsaw. From 1948, he was a teacher in music schools. From 1957, he lectured at the PWSM (now the Academy of Music) in Poznań, in 1984–87, he was head of the department of composition and theory, from 1978 associate professor, and from 1985 full professor. He was the winner of, among others, the Minister of Culture and Art Awards, first degree (1978, 1982, 1988), Prime Minister’s Award (1982), and Polish Composers’ Union Award (1986).
Koszewski was one of the most outstanding Polish contemporary composers of choral music. In this field he achieved international success. In Koszewski’s vocal work, especially a cappella, two trends can be distinguished: traditional (since 1952) inspired by folklore (e.g. Kashubian Suite, Greater Poland Triptych) and innovative (since 1960) with an individual stylistic face, which opens with fa-re-mi-do-si Music, built on five-note chords, a series derived from Chopin’s name and surname. In La espero and Nicolao Copernico dedicatum, Koszewski develops the idea of spatiality of sound, polychoralism and introduces unconventional articulation means. He enriches his subsequent works with new ways of emitting sound, paravocal elements, especially the artistic whistle (e.g. Da fischiare, Canzone e danza, Christmas Carol No. 2 out of three carols, Prologus), exposes the sonoristic qualities of the verbal text and adapts the features of instrumental texture for the needs of choral music (e.g. Games, Ba-No-Sche-Ro) and uses an open form (e.g. Ad musicam). Koszewski’s later works (e.g. Campana, Angelus Domini, Three Euphonic Chorales) show a tendency to give choral music the rank of a vocal orchestra and to strive for a synthesis of traditional and contemporary means of choral style. In his orchestral and piano works, there appear features of neoclassicism (e.g. Concerto grosso all’antica, Symphonic Allegro, Sonata breve) and Polish folk music (e.g. Kuyavian Overture, Przystroje). Koszewski’s artistic achievements are supplemented by works in the field of Chopinology and pedagogy, including the first Polish textbook for learning piano improvisation. Koszewski’s discography includes an extensive list of compositions, performances and recordings in Poland and abroad.
-eLiterature: T. Haas „Fa-re-mi-do-si” Andrzeja Koszewskiego, “Ruch Muzyczny” 1965 No. 29; K.A. Mazur „La espero” Andrzeja Koszewskiego, “Ruch Muzyczny” 1965 No. 24; L. Markiewicz „Nicolao Copernico dedicatum” Andrzeja Koszewskiego, “Ruch Muzyczny” 1971 No. 18; T. Marek Composer’s Workshop – Andrzej Koszewski, “Polish Music” 1976 No. 1; A. Podhajska „Suita kaszubska” Andrzeja Koszewskiego, «Prace specjalne» No. 15, PWSM Gdańsk 1978; A. Podhajska Twórczość fortepianowa Andrzeja Koszewskiego, «Prace specjalne» No. 18, PWSM Gdańsk 1979; M. Podhajski Materiały do nauki improwizacji fortepianowej Andrzeja Koszewskiego, «Prace specjalne» No. 18, PWSM Gdańsk 1979; R. Połczyński Traktuję chór jako orkiestrę głosów ludzkich. Rozmowa z Andrzejem Koszewskim, “Ruch Muzyczny” 1986 No. 8; F.G. Rössler „La espero” avangarde, “Monato”, Antwerp 1990 No. 7; L. Zielińska Przewodnik po twórczości Andrzeja Koszewskiego, Poznań 1992.
Instrumental:
Concerto grosso all’antica for string orchestra, 1947, published in Kraków 1984
Symphonic Allegro for large orchestra, 1953, published in Kraków 1963
Sonata breve for piano, 1954, published in Warsaw 1974
Five Old Dances for piano, 1954–63, published in Warsaw 1984
Sinfonietta, 1956, published in Kraków 1977
Makowe ziarenka [Poppy Seeds] for reciting voice and piano or piano solo, text by J. Ratajczak, 1969, published in Kraków 1978
Przystroje for piano, 1970, published in Warsaw 1973, Kraków 1977
Three Sonatinas for piano, 1978, published in Kraków 1981
Vocal:
for mixed choir a capella:
Mazowianka for mixed choir a capella, folk text, 1952, published in Warsaw 1966
Kashubian Suite for mixed choir a capella, folk text, 1952, published in Kraków 1956, 2nd ed. 1982
Pieśń powitania for mixed choir a capella, published in Kraków 1956
Fa-re-mi-do-si Music for mixed choir a capella, performed at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1961, published in Kraków 1962, 7th ed. 1979
Greater Poland Triptych for mixed choir a capella, folk text, 1963, published in Kraków 1965, 2nd ed. 1994; also version for mixed choir and orchestra, 1964
Zdrowaś, królewno wyborna for mixed choir a capella, text by anonym, 1963, published in Bydgoszcz 1989; also version for male choir, published in Warsaw 1990, and female published in Warsaw 1987
La espero for two choirs, text by L. Zamenhof, 1963, performed at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1965, published in Kraków 1965, 2nd ed. 1976
Nicolao Copernico dedicatum, cantata for 3 choirs, text by J. Ratajczak, 1966, performed at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1992, published in Kraków 1970, 3rd ed. 1974
Games for mixed choir a capella, text by J. Ratajczak, 1968, published in Kraków 1972, 4th ed. 1993; version for female or boys’ choir, published in Kraków 1981
Spotkanie w Szczecinie for mixed choir a capella, text by K.I. Gałczyński, 1968, published in Warsaw 1969
Mała suita nadwarciańska for mixed choir a capella, folk text, 1969, published in Warsaw 1970
Ba-No-Sche-Ro for mixed choir a capella, text by J. Ratajczak, 1972, performed at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1973, published in Kraków 1974, 2nd ed. 1977
Three Christmas Carols for mixed choir a capella, text by J. Słowacki, anonym, Latin text, 1971, 1975, published in Kraków 1976, 3rd ed. 1985
Prologus for mixed choir a capella, text by Gallus Anonymus, 1975, performed at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1976, published in Kraków 1978
Ad musicam for vocal orchestra, text by the composer, 1979, published in Kraków 1983
Campana for mixed choir a capella, text by anonym, 1980, performed at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1983, published in Kraków 1984; version for male choir, 1984, published in Warsaw 1987
Angelus Domini for mixed choir a capella, Latin text, 1981, performed at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1985, published in Kraków 1988
Three Euphonic Chorales for two choirs, text by Hippocrates, A. de Lille, and the composer, 1982: 1. Sententia, chorale, performed at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1986, published in Kraków 1986
Three Children Miniatures for mixed choir a capella, text by J. Ratajczak, 1983, published in Bydgoszcz 1986
Cantemus omnes for mixed choir a capella, text by the composer, 1985, published in Warsaw 1987
Canta-Move for mixed choir a capella, 1986, premiere Chicago 5 April 1987, dedicated to J. Szyrocki
Flusso-Riflusso for mixed choir a capella, 1986, dedicated to J. Łukaszewski, premiere Poznań 28 June 1997, published in Kraków 2014
Ostinato for mixed choir a capella, 1986, dedicated to P. Ferensowicz, premiere Wrocław 3 December 1987, published in Kraków 2014
Tre pezzi for mixed choir a capella, text by the composer, 1986, published in Kraków 1993
Strofy trubadura for mixed choir a capella, text by G. de Poitéres, 1986, published in Bydgoszcz 1989
Trois chaconnes for mixed choir a capella, Latin text, 1987, published in Warsaw 1989
Serioso-giocoso for mixed choir a capella, text by the composer, 1989, performed at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1989, published in Poznań 1993
Canti sacri for mixed choir a capella, Latin text 1992, published in Poznań 1992
Trittico di Messa for mixed choir a capella, Latin text, 1992, published in Poznań 1992
Carmina sacrata for mixed choir a capella, Latin text 1994, published in Poznań 1995
Unitis Viribus for mixed choir a capella, 2002, premiere Gdańsk 7 June 2003
for male choir:
Polonaise for male choir, folk text, 1952, published in Warsaw 1987
for female or boys’ choir:
Modre oczka for female or boys’ choir, folk text, 1952; also version for mixed choir, published in Kraków 1956; both versions Warsaw 1977
Lullaby for female or boys’ choir, text by H. Piotrowski, 1952; also version for mixed and female choir, published in Warsaw 1963
Wczoraj była niedziołeczka for female or boys’ choir, folk text, 1969, published in Warsaw 1970
Kantylena for female or boys’ choir, folk text, 1969, published in Warsaw 1970
Canzone e danza for female or boys’ choir, text by the composer, 1974, published in Kraków 1976, 2nd ed. 1981; version for male choir, published in Warsaw 1975; for mixed choir, published in Warsaw 1976
Suita lubuska for female or boys’ choir, folk text, 1983, published in Warsaw 1986
for children or female choir:
Zaklęcia for children or female choir, text by J. Ratajczak, 1983, published in Kraków 1988
Krople tęczy for children or female choir, text by J. Ratajczak, 1988, published in Kraków 1993
Polni muzykanci for children or female choir, text by J. Ratajczak, 1983, published in Warsaw 1983
Deszcz for children or female choir, text by J. Ratajczak, 1983, published in Warsaw 1983
Enigma 575 for children or female choir, text by the composer, 1986, published in Toruń 1992
Płot w zimie for children or female choir, text by W. Broniewski, 1988, published in Warsaw 1989
Trzy tańce polskie for children or female choir, folk text, 1989, published in Warsaw 1993
Wi-La-Wi for children or female choir, text by J. Ratajczak, 1994, published in Poznań 1995
Da fischiare for a whistling ensemble, 1973, published in Kraków 1977
for voice and piano:
Three Lullabies for voice and piano, text by H. Piotrowski, J. Kierst, 1952, 1963, 1969, published in Warsaw 1978
songs from 1953–55 for voice and piano; also versions for mixed choir, published in Kraków 1954–56
Arrangements:
works of Chopin for mixed choir (1960) and for orchestra (1965), choral arrangement, published in Warsaw 1961, Poznań 1995
