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Krzysztof Penderecki (, 1933 in Dębica ) is a Polish Composer and Conductor of Classical Music . CAREER Early years After taking private composition lessons with Franciszek Skolyszewski , Penderecki studied music at Krakow University and the Academy Of Music In Krakow under Artur Malawski and Stanislaw Wiechowicz . After graduating in 1958, he took up a teaching post at the Academy. Penderecki's early works show the influence of Anton Webern and Pierre Boulez (he has also been influenced by Igor Stravinsky ). Penderecki's international recognition began in 1959 at the Warsaw Autumn Festival with the premieres of the works ''Strophen'', ''Psalms of David'', and ''Emanations'', but the piece that truly brought him to international attention was '' Threnody To The Victims Of Hiroshima '' (see Threnody and Hiroshima ), written for 52 String Instrument s. In it, Penderecki makes use of extended instrumental techniques (for example, playing on the "wrong" side of the bridge, bowing on the tailpiece). There are many novel textures in the work, which makes great use of Tone Clusters (notes close together played at the same time). See Sound Mass . The work was originally titled ''8' 37"'', perhaps in a nod to John Cage , but Penderecki changed the title after his publisher suggested he give it a more colorful name. The St. Luke Passion The '' St. Luke Passion '' (1963–66) brought Penderecki further popular acclaim, not least because it was a major, devoutly religious work, written in an avant-garde musical language, composed within Communist Eastern Europe. Western audiences saw it as a snub to the Soviet authorities and were keen to give it their support. Various different musical styles can be seen in the piece. The experimental textures, such as were seen in the ''Threnody'', are balanced by the Baroque form of the work and the occasional use of more traditional Harmonic and Melodic writing. Penderecki makes use of Serialism in this piece, and one of the tone rows he uses includes the BACH Motif , which acts as a bridge between the conventional and more experimental elements. The Stabat Mater section towards the end of the piece concludes on a simple major Chord of D major, and this gesture is repeated at the very end of the work, which finishes on a triumphant E major chord. These are the only tonal harmonies in the work, and both come as a surprise to the listener; Penderecki's use of tonal triads such as these remains a controversial aspect of the work. 1970s-present Around the mid- and the Tritone . Some commentators went so far as to compare this new direction to Anton Bruckner . This direction continued with the Symphony No. 2, ''Christmas'' (1980), which is rather straightforward from a harmonic and melodic standpoint for a composer who had been one of the most experimental in Europe. It makes frequent use of the tune of the Christmas Carol , '' Silent Night ''. In 1980, Penderecki was commissioned by Solidarity to compose a piece to accompany the unveiling of a statue at the Gdańsk shipyards to commemorate those killed at anti-government riots there in 1970. Penderecki responded with the ''Lacrimosa'', which he later expanded into one of the best known works of his later period, the '' Polish Requiem '' (1980-84, revised 1993). Here again the harmonies are quite lush, although there are moments which evoke his earlier work in the 1960s. The tendency in recent years has been towards more conservative Romanticism , however, as seen in works like the Cello Concerto No. 2 and the ''Credo''. Some of Penderecki's music has been adapted for film soundtracks. Portions of the 1971 Cello Concerto have been used in both '' The Shining '' and '' The Exorcist ''. In 1991 the Manic Street Preachers used a sample of ''Threnody To The Victims Of Hiroshima'' in the intro of their single ''You Love Us (Heavenly Version)''. More recently, director David Lynch made extensive use of Penderecki's music in his 2006 film Inland Empire . Kosmognia also features on the soundtrack to Lynch's 1990 film Wild At Heart . In 2001, Penderecki was awarded with the Prince Of Asturias Prize in Spain , one of the highest honours given in Spain to individuals, entities, organizations or others from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, arts, humanities, or public affairs. Penderecki received an honorary doctorate from the University Of Münster , Germany in 2006 . His notable students include Chester Biscardi and Walter Mays . SOUND FILES WORK Operas
Symphonies
Orchestral
Concertante
Vocal/Choral
Chamber
Instrumental
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