Paciorkiewicz Tadeusz, *17 October 1916 Sierpc, †21 November 1998 Warsaw, Polish composer, organist and teacher. He studied at the Biskupia Szkoła Organistów in Płock, later he studied organ with B. Rutkowski in 1936–43, and began studying composition with K. Sikorski in Warsaw in 1941, which he graduated in 1951 at the State Higher School of Music (PWSM) in Łódź. During the occupation, he worked as an organist and music teacher in Warsaw and Nasielsk. In 1945, he founded a music school in Płock, which he directed until 1949; in 1945, he was one of the founders of the People’s Institute of Music (LIM) in Łódź. From 1949, he taught at the PŚSM and the State Higher School of PWSM in Łódź, and from 1954 he also lectured at the PWSM (since 1979 the Academy of Music) in Warsaw, where he led a composition class and taught theoretical subjects; there: associate professor in 1966, full professor in 1979, dean of the Faculty of Composition, Theory and Conducting in 1961–69 and in 1978–81, and rector in 1969–71. His students included Z. Bagiński, W. Łukaszewski, S. Moryto and M. Ptaszyńska. He retired in 1986. He was awarded the Officer’s Cross (1979) and Commander’s Cross (1997) of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the title of Meritorious Cultural Activist in 1971 and the title of Meritorious Teacher of the Polish People’s Republic in 1985. Winner of numerous awards: 2nd prize at the ZKP competition for Sonatina for bassoon and piano in 1953; Ministry of National Defence Award in 1968 and 1974; 3rd degree State Prize, for his operatic works in 1969; M. Lengowski Prize for De Revolutionibus in 1973; Prime Minister’s Prize for Wycinanki z morskiej pianki in 1979; ZKP Prize in 1985.
Paciorkiewicz’s work, maintained in the late Romantic style, often referring to folklore, is stylistically uniform. It was created mainly to order, thanks to which most of the pieces were performed. It is characterised by good compositional craftsmanship and great versatility because it includes solo and choral pieces, rich chamber music as well as oratorio and opera works. Paciorkiewicz’s artistic ideology is manifested in a balanced attitude towards modernity, which the composer considers to be a continuation of the achievements of past eras. Hence the dominance of classical forms, references to baroque polyphony, and the use of extended tonality. The leading piece in Paciorkiewicz’s compositional work is the monumental oratorio De Revolutionibus, but his chamber works and concerts for solo instruments with orchestra, which constitute a valuable pedagogical repertoire, deserve special attention. Paciorkiewicz’s compositional legacy is located in the National Library in Warsaw.
Literature: K. Jaraczewska-Mockałło T.P. Katalog twórczości i bibliografia, «Prace Biblioteki Głównej Akademii Muzycznej w Warszawie» no. 25, Warsaw 1998.
Instrumental:
Variations for string quartet, 1946, published in Warsaw 1988
Sonata for organ, 1947, published in Kraków 1966, 2nd ed. 1976
Kurpie Suite for small orchestra, 1948
Overture, 1949
Concerto Sonatina for piano, 1950, published in Kraków 1954
3 Etudes for piano, 1951
Improvisation for harp, 1951, published in Warsaw 1978
Quintet for wind instruments, 1951, published in Warsaw 1979
Small Polish Triptych for piano, 1951, published in Warsaw 1952
Piano Concerto No. 1, 1952
Sonatina for piano, 1952, published in Kraków 1954, also in: Czytanki muzyczne, ed. E. Altberg, book 3, Kraków 1958, 9th ed. 1990
Symphony No. 1, 1953
Sonatina for bassoon and piano, 1953, published in Kraków 1956
Piano Concerto No. 2, 1954
Sonata for violin and piano, 1954, published in Kraków 1961
Violin Concerto, 1955
Sonatina for 2 violins, 1955, published in Warsaw 1962
Symphony No. 2, 1957
Fantasia for violin and piano, 1957, published in Warsaw 1983
4 Caprices for clarinet and piano, 1960, published in Kraków 1962, 3rd ed. 1974
String Quartet No. 1, 1960, published in Kraków 1964
Concerto Duet for organ and piano, 1962, published in Warsaw 1974; 2nd version, Organ Concerto No. 1
Music for harp and 5 wind instruments, 1963, published in Kraków 1978
Reed Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon, 1963, published in Kraków 1967
Joyful Overture for small band, 1963; 2nd version for wind band, 1965
Trio for flute, alto and harp, 1966, published in Kraków 1970
Organ Concerto No. 1, 1967 (version of Concerto Duet for organ and piano)
Adagio and allegro for string orchestra, 1967
Divertimento for clarinet and piano, 1968, published in Kraków 1970, 2nd ed. 1982
Divertimento for clarinet and string orchestra, 1968
Gothic Fantasy for organ, 1968, published in Warsaw 1975
Soldier’s Fantasy for wind band, 1968
Improvisation for organ, 1968
Elegy for oboe and string orchestra, 1969
Postludium for organ, 1969, published as Improvvisazione. Postludium, Kraków 1977
Melodies and Rhythms for piano, 1970, book 1, Kraków 1979, book 2, Kraków 1987
Concerto for trombone and orchestra, 1971; 2nd version for wind orchestra, 1974, piano reduction published in Kraków 1974
Little Suite for 4 French horns, 1971, published in Warsaw 1974
Toccata No. 1 for organ, 1971, published in Warsaw 1975
6 Miniatures for 4 trombones, 1972, published in Warsaw 1974
Piano Quintet, 1972, published in Warsaw 1973
Concerto Duet for clarinet and piano, 1973, published in Warsaw 1974, Kraków 1978; 2nd version for alto and piano, 1974
Sonata for cello and piano, 1974, published in Warsaw 1977
Jubilee Overture for wind orchestra, 1974
Toccata No. 2 for organ, 1975, published in Warsaw 1982
Triptych for harp, 1975, published in Warsaw 1978
Viola Concerto, 1976
Chorale for 4 trombones, 1977
Triptych for organ, 1977, published in Kraków 1980
Solemn Overture for wind orchestra, 1977
Chamber Music for 2 brass quartets, 1978, published in Warsaw 1985
Concerto alla barocco for harpsichord and small orchestra, 1979
Impressions for viola, 1980
Concerto for harp, flute and string orchestra, 1980
Preludes for wind quintet, 1980
Prelude for organ 1981, published in Warsaw 1982
String Quartet No. 2, 1982, premiere at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1986, published in Warsaw 2000
Oboe Concerto, 1982
Permutations for flute, 1982
Concerto for 2 violins and orchestra, 1983
Andante for violin and organ, 1984, published in Warsaw 1989
Moderato grazioso for piano and orchestra, 1984
Concerto Music for wind band, 1984
2 Chorales for organ, 1985, published in Kraków 1995
3 Little Preludes and Fugues for organ, 1985, published in Kraków 1995
3 Musical Moments for 5 clarinets, 1985
Concerto for trumpet and orchestra, 1986
Reflections for trumpet and organ, 1987
Concerto No. 2 for organ and string orchestra, 1988
Aria for viola and organ, 1988
Decet for wind quintet and string quintet, 1988
Flute Quintet, 1988
Sonata for viola and piano, 1988
Symphony No. 3, 1989
Introduction No. 1 for organ, 1989, published in Bergamo 1997
Concerto for viola, organ and orchestra, 1990
Lauda Sion, dialogues for organ and harp, 1990
Sequence for organ, 1990, Bergamo 1997
Andante calmato for cello and organ, 1991
Introduction No. 2 for organ, 1991
Concerto for cello and chamber ensemble, 1991
Symphony No. 4, 1992
Caprice for clarinet, 1995
Andante for violin and viola, 1996
other educational compositions for piano
Vocal:
Kurpie Songs for mixed choir, 1946, published in Łódź 1947; 2nd version for male choir, 1990
Marian Songs for mixed choir, 1947, published in Łódź 1947
Of Chopin Songs for mixed choir, lyrics by A. Oppman, 1948, published in Kraków 1949, 2nd ed. 1952
Songs of Mazovia, Vistula and Warsaw, cantata for mixed choir, lyrics by W. Broniewski, 1952, published in Warsaw 1954
10 Silesian Songs for mixed choir, 1954, published in Kraków 1955
Song of Homeland for 3 children’s voices a cappella, lyrics by K.I. Gałczyński, 1960; 2nd version for male choir, published in Warsaw 1990
Orpheus in the Woods, 6 songs for mixed choir, lyrics by K.K. Baczyński, 1977, published in Kraków 1980
Ave Regina caelorum for mixed choir, 1978, published in Bergamo 1992, also in: “Życie Muzyczne” 2000 no. 1/2 (Warsaw)
To Polish Speech, song for 3 equal voices a cappella, lyrics by W. Broniewski, 1978, published in Warsaw 1979
Thinking Homeland, 2 songs for mixed choir, lyrics by K. Wojtyła, 1982
Polish Lithany for mixed choir, lyrics by J. Twardowski, 1984
Warsaw Triptych for mixed choir, lyrics by Z. Laukowski, L. Staff, Z. Kubiak, 1985, published in Warsaw 1986
Soldier’s Dream, song for mixed choir, lyrics by K.I. Gałczyński, 1988
Song about Soldiers of Westerplatte for male choir a cappella, lyrics by K.I. Gałczyński, 2nd version for mixed choir, both ca. 1993
Vocal-instrumental:
Ode to Youth, cantata for 4 solo voices, choir and orchestra, lyrics by A. Mickiewicz, 1950; 2nd version, 1981
Sea-froth Cut-outs, small cantata for children’s choir and 5 wind instruments, lyrics by W. Słobodnik, 1956, published in Warsaw 1980
Earth’s Burden, 5 songs for voice and piano, lyrics by W. Słobodnik, 1961, premiere at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1961, published in Warsaw 1971; 2nd version for voice and orchestra, 1967
Homeland for mixed choir and orchestra, lyrics by K.I. Gałczyński, 1961
Music for soprano and string orchestra, 1966
A Peasant, a Fox and a Dog, small cantata for 5 solo voices, choir and instrumental ensemble, lyrics by J. de La Fontaine, 1969
De Revolutionibus, oratory for solo voices, reciter, boys’ choir, mixed choir, organ and orchestra, lyrics by S. Połom, 1972
Missa brevis for choir and organ, 1973
David’s Psalms for voice and organ, transl. L. Staff, 1974
Chants of Warsaw, cantata for voice and organ to texts by various poets, published in Warsaw 1981, 2nd version for male choir and orchestra, both probably 1980
2 Religious Songs for voice and organ, liturgical text, 1986
5 Songs for voice and piano, lyrics by K.I. Gałczyński, 1990
Ave Maria for voice and organ, 1991
Veni Creator for voice and organ, 1991
Psalm 150 “Laudate Dominum” for 5 solo voices of 5-voice mixed choir and organ, 1993
Scenic:
Warsaw Legend, ballet, libretto by I. Turska, 1959; including a suite for orchestra, 1960
Ushiko (Lovers), radio opera, libretto by Z. Kopalko, 1962, radio premiere Kraków 1963, staged in Warsaw 1964
Gdańsk Romance, opera, libretto by W. Brégy after Deotyma, 1964, staged in Łódź 1968
Ligea, radio opera, libretto by Z. Kopalko after Herodot and Archiloch, 1967, premiere Kraków 1967
music for theatre and radio plays
arrangements of folk songs for voice and piano
Arrangements:
Hej, tam w polu for mixed choir a cappella, 1945, published in Kraków 1953
Po cóżeście przyjechali for male choir a cappella, published in Kraków 1956
