Słowiński Władysław, *14 May 1930 Sadlno, †5 September 2024 Warsaw, Polish composer, conductor and organiser of musical life. In 1950–54, he studied composition under T. Szeligowski and in 1951–55, conducting under W. Berdyaev and S. Wisłocki at the PWSM in Poznań, and in 1949–51, musicology under the supervision of A. Chybiński at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. In 1954–64, he was the conductor of the Grand Theatre in Poznań; at the same time, he collaborated with symphony orchestras, mainly with the Poznań Philharmonic, and in the following years with the Grand Theatre in Łódź, the Musical Theatre and the Grand Theatre in Warsaw. In 1970–73, he was the artistic director of Polskie Nagrania. In 1973–85, he was the secretary general of the Main Board of the Polish Composers’ Union [ZKP], and in 1985–2001, the president of the Warsaw branch of the ZKP. In 1986, he founded the Warsaw Music Meetings Festival, serving as its artistic director. Awards and decorations: in 1977 the Prime Minister’s Award for works for children and youth, in 1990 the Warsaw Voivode’s Award for his entire creative achievements, in 1999 the ZKP Award for his compositional work, establishing the Warsaw Music Meetings festival and services to the Association, in 2001 the Marshal of the Mazovian Voivodeship Award for his compositional work and social activity, in 1975 the Golden Cross of Merit; in 1980 the Knight’s Cross, in 1987 the Officer’s Cross, in 2005 the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta; in 1986 the Golden Badge of Honour “For Services to Warsaw”, in 2006 the Silver Medal for Merit to Culture “Gloria Artis”, in 2006 the Mazovian Voivodeship Self-Government C.K. Norwid Award in the field of music, in 2019 the 100th Anniversary Award of the Society of Authors ZAiKS.
The sound language of Władysław Słowiński, initially rooted in the neoclassical convention (Concerto for flute accompanied by a string orchestra, piano and percussion), is characterised by a clear, transparent form with a clear dramaturgy and easily recognisable points of tension and relaxation, instrumental colouring and strong expressiveness, a particular manifestation of which are phrases referring to the language of rhetorical figures (Doloroso quartet). This is probably justified by the artist’s long-standing connections with musical theatre, both as a creator and conductor, although none of the concert pieces bears the signs of literal illustration. Contacts with the “Wilanów” Quartet and flautist Elżbieta Gajewska resulted in many pieces for various sets of string instruments with flute. Several compositions were commissioned by the Polish Radio (including Ballet Impressions, and Ballet Suite “Cyrk mistrza Cho-Cho”). A separate strand of Władysław Słowiński’s work consists of pieces with distinct stylistic features, referring in particular to the style of the Baroque and early Classicism (Three Burlesques for a string quartet, Old Polish Songs).
Instrumental:
Sonata for piano, 1952, performed in Warsaw 1953
Ballet Impressions for chamber orchestra, 1956
Concerto for flute accompanied by string orchestra, piano and percussion, 1957, performed in Poznań 1958
Quintet for wind instruments, 1957, performed in Poznań 1959
Music in three parts for orchestra, 1958, performed in Poznań 1961
Three Musical Grotesques for orchestra: Polka, 1961; Scherzino, 1962; Tango, 1968
Dialogue for violin and harpsichord, 1964, performed in Poznań 1964
Miniatures for piano, 1967, performed in Poznań 1968, published in Kraków 1975
Quartet for flute, clarinet, trumpet and bassoon, 1968
Ballet Suite “Cyrk mistrza Cho-Cho” for orchestra, 1968
Four Dialogues for violin and harpsichord, 1976, performed in Poznań 1977, published in Warsaw 1977
Quartetto piccolo in memoriam T. Szeligowski for string quartet, 1980, performed in Poznań 1983, published in Warsaw 1985
Concertino for harpsichord and string quartet, 1987, performed in Warsaw 1988, published in Warsaw 1995
Passionato per quartetto d’archi, 1987, performed in Warsaw 1987, published in Kraków 1987
Serio e buffo for flute solo, 1987, published in Warsaw 1988
Threnody for alto saxophone and organ, 1988, published in Warsaw 1989
Espressivo sempre for flute and string quartet, 1990, performed in Warsaw 1990
Three Burlesques for string quartet, 1993, performed in Warsaw 1993
Doloroso in memoriam W. Lutosławski for string quartet, 1994, performed in Warsaw 2013
Suita dla Zamku Królewskiego – reminiscencje barokowe for flute and string trio, 1996, performed in Warsaw 1996
Elegy for string quartet, 1997, performed in Warsaw 1997
Ultima Volta for orchestra, 2016–17, performed in Warsaw 2017
Vocal-instrumental:
Makowskie bajki for mezzo-soprano, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, words by J. Ficowski, 1960, performed in Poznań 1961, published in Kraków 1975
Tryptyk bez echa for bass and piano, words by M. Konopnicka, 1955, performed in Poznań 1960, published in Warsaw 1979
…dogonić siwiznę popiołu… Tren pamięci Janusza Korczaka for baritone and violin, words by J. Ficowski, 1988, performed in Warsaw 1991, published in Warsaw 1994
Definicje for soprano and cello, words by J. Ficowski, 1989, performed in Warsaw 1989, published in Warsaw 1989
Pieśni staropolskie for tenor, alto flute, harpsichord and string orchestra, words by Polish poets of the 17th and 18th c., performed in Warsaw 1991
Późnojesienny labirynt for baritone and piano, words by T. Tranströmer, transl. L. Neuger, 1998, performed in Warsaw 1998
Definicje II for soprano and piano, words by J. Ficowski, 1994–2000, performed in Warsaw 2000
Cztery wiersze Julii Hartwig for voice and piano, 2000
Tryptyk bizantyjski for tenor, reciter, mixed choir, woodwind instruments and percussion, words by J. Ficowski, 2000, performed in Warsaw 2000
Tętno kołatka for voice and piano to words of Jerzy Ficowski, 2009, performed in Warsaw 2009
Łódeczka Charona, 5 songs for baritone and chamber orchestra to words of Tadeusz Różewicz, 2013–14, performed in Warsaw 2014
Scenic:
Pchła w uchu/La puce à l’ oreille, music comedy, libretto after G. Feydeau, adapt. A. Marianowicz, 1972, staged in Gdynia 1973
Proszę wsiadać, drzwi zamykać, music comedy, libretto A. Marianowicz after Moncey, staged in Łódź 1976
Rzecz o Alkasynie i Nikolecie czyli Chantefable o miłości, która zwycięży, scenic or stage piece for soloists, narrator, mixed choir and 11 musicals to texts of and old-French Anonym, transl. A.L. Czerny, 1982
Pierwsza lepsza, opera in 1 act, libretto by the composer after A. Fredry, 1986
music for theatre plays and documentaries
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pieces for children and youth, including Suite for three equal voices accompanied by piano, words Cz. Janczarski, 1985, CD plays, singspiels for children (with J. Ficowski).
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Rekonstrukcja oraz instrumentacja zaginionej opery Wł. Żeleńskiego Stara Baśń, 1959
Divertimento concertante for violin and string orchestra (transcription of Trio in B-flat major by F. Janiewicz), 1998, performed in Warsaw 1998
