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Krzysztof Meyer

Krzysztof Meyer at the age of 70.
©
Photo: Bolesław Lutosławski

Krzysztof Meyer was born in 1943 in Krakow, where he lived until he moved permanently to Germany in 1987. For more than half a century he has been composing vocal and instrumental music for orchestra, chamber ensembles and soloists. He has composed works such as the opera The Cyberiad based on Stanisław Lem's short stories, the oratorio The Creation of the World, Mass, eight symphonies for various orchestral and vocal ensembles, 15 instrumental concertos, 14 string quartets as well as quintets, trios for various instruments and solo pieces mostly for piano and cello but also for organ and saxophone. His output is very varied: He has composed songs for virtuosos and for children and also music that features an unconventional approach to playing as well as music that is addressed to the tradionalists. Altogether he has written more than one hundred works, most of which have been recorded and are available on CD.

Mediathek Sorted

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  • Student at the Music Lyceum in Kraków - In preparation for his piano diploma examination (in the background Sonata in A flat, Opus 26 by Beethoven).
  • Music in the age of the avant-garde - The start of the I. String quartet by Krzysztof Meyer.
  • Sketches for the VII. Symphony - As ever in pencil: traditional notation, traditional sound.
  • Meyer in conversation with Karlheinz Stockhausen, in the background Konstanty Regamey during the "Warsaw Autumn". - The festival for new music has been organised since 1956. During the Cold War, it represented a bridge for musicians on both sides of the "Iron Curtain".
  • Meyer in conversation with Swjatoslaw Richter - Richter was one of the outstanding pianists of his generation. However, the "Warsaw Autumn" also featured musicians who played instruments in an unconventional and surprising way.
  • Meyer receives Olivier Messiaen as part of the "Warsaw Autumn" festival - Between 1985 and 1989 Krzysztof Meyer was the chair of the Association of Polish Composers.
  • Meeting with Mauricio Kagel - Meyer and Kagel met up regularly for years at the Academy of Music in Cologne, where both composers taught.
  • Poster for the opera "Kyberiade" - With a libretto based on stories by Stanisław Lem, world premiere in Wuppertal.
  • Queen Genia (Pamela Geddes) and Trull, the constructor (Michal Milanov) - Two of the protagonists in the opera Kyberiade in Wuppertal.
  • Krzyś with his parents - Maria and Jan Meyer in their house in Kraków (Summer 1947).
  • Antoni Wit conducts the Polish premiere of the 6th Symphony "The Polish". - In January in Krakow, the world premiere was in Hamburg in 1982.
  • The composer talking to the conductor Andrey Boreyko - Before the world premiere of "Chansons d’un rȇveur solitaire" in January in Düsseldorf.
  • Presentation of the Jerzy Kurczewski Prize to Meyer by Krzysztof Penderecki - Auditorium of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. Krzysztof Meyer was Krzysztof Penderecki's first graduate student in 1965.
  • Meyer together with Irina Shostakovich in Dilijan, Armenia - Krzysztof Meyer has many unforgettable memories of his numerous meetings with Dmitri Shostakovich, but unfortunately not a single photo.
  • Danuta and Witold Lutosławski at Krzysztof Meyer - In autumn in Bergisch Gladbach.
  • Krzysztof Meyer - Hörspiel von "COSMO Radio po polsku" - In Zusammenarbeit mit "COSMO Radio po polsku" präsentieren wir Hörspiele zu ausgewählten Themen unseres Portals.

    Krzysztof Meyer - Hörspiel von "COSMO Radio po polsku"

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Krzysztof Meyer
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Krzysztof Meyer at the age of 70.
Krzysztof Meyer at the age of 70.
©
Photo: Bolesław Lutosławski

ORCHESTRAL WORKS

  • Symphony No. 1, Op. 10 (1964)
  • Symphony No. 4, Op. 31 (1973)
  • Fireballs, Op. 37 (1976)
  • Symphony in D major in Mozartean Style, Op. 41 (1976-1977)
  • Symphony No. 5 for String Orchestra, Op. 44 (1978-1979)
  • Symphony No. 6 ‘Polish Symphony՚, Op. 57 (1982)
  • Hommage à Johannes Brahms, Op. 59 (1982)
  • Concerto retro for Flute, Harpsichord and Strings, Op. 39a (1986)
  • Musica Incrostata, Op. 70 (1988)
  • Farewell Music, Op. 88 (1997)
  • Symphony No.7 ‘Sinfonia del tempo che Passa՚ (2001-2002)
  • Musique scintillante for chamber orchestra of 14 instruments, Op. 108 (2007)
  • Musique de la lumière et de la pénombre for chamber orchestra of 14 instruments, Op. 118 (2012)
  • Contredanses for Two Orchestras, Op. 119 (2013)
  • Musica festiva for Two organs and Orchestra, Op. 124 (2014) 

 

CONCERTOS

  • Concerto da camera, for Flute, Percussion and Strings, Op. 6 (1964)
  • Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1, Op. 12 (1964-65)
  • Concerto da camera for Oboe, Percussion and Strings, Op. 29 (1972)
  • Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, Op. 35 (1973-75)
  • Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 46 (1989)
  • Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, Op. 61 (1983)
  • Canti Amadei – Concerto da camera per violoncello et orchestra (Cello Concerto No. I), Op. 63 (1983-84)
  • Concerto da camera for Harp, Cello and String Orchestra, Op. 64 (1984)
  • Caro Luigi for Four Cellos and String Orchestra, Op. 73 (1989)
  • Concerto for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra, Op. 79 (1992)
  • Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 2, Op. 85 (1994-95)
  • Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2, Op. 87 (1996)
  • Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, Op. 96 (2001)
  • Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Op. 105 (2005-2006)
  • Concerto for Guitar,Timpani and String Orchestra, Op. 115 (2010-2011)
  • Musica Festiva for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 124 (2014)

 

CHAMBER MUSIC

  • Introspection for Five Cellos, Op. 2 (1960)
  • Music for Three Cellos, Timpani and Piano, Op. 4 (1961-62)
  • String Quartet No. 1, Op. 8 (1963)
  • Interludio Statico for Clarinet and Four Cellos (1963-64)
  • Hommage à Nadia Boulanger for Flute, Viola and Harp, Op. 17 (1967/1991)
  • String Quartet No. 2, Op. 23 (1969)
  • String Quartet No. 3, Op. 27 (1970-71)
  • String Quartet No. 4, Op. 33 (1974)
  • Concerto Retro for Flute, Violin, Cello and Harpsichord, Op. 39 (1976)
  • String Quartet No. 5, Op. 42 (1977)
  • Interludio drammatico for Oboe and Chamber Ensemble, Op. 48 (1979-80)
  • Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano, Op. 50 (1980)
  • String Quartet No. 6, Op. 51 (1981)
  • Geigen Krämchen for Violin and Piano (for children), Op. 55 (1981)
  • Sonatina for Violin and Piano (for young people), Op. 55a (1981-83)
  • Canzona for Cello and Piano, Op. 56 (1981)
  • Pezzo capriccioso for Oboe and Piano, Op. 60 (1982)
  • Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1, Op. 62 (1983)
  • String Quartet No. 7, Op. 65 (1985)
  • String Quartet No. 8, Op. 67 (1985)
  • Saxophone Quartet (Transcription of String Quartet No.7), Op. 65a (1986)
  • Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet, Op. 66 (1986)
  • Capriccio per sei strumenti (For Three Flutes, Violin, Viola and Cello), Op. 69 (1987-88)
  • String Quartet No. 9, Op. 74 (1989-90)
  • Quintet for Piano and String Quartet, Op. 76 (1990-91)
  • Pezzo per Mauro for Flute, Alto Saxophone, Trombone, Piano and Percussion, Op. 77 (1991)
  • Trio for Flute, Viola and Guitar, Op. 78 (1992-94)
  • Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello, Op. 81 (1993)
  • String Quartet No. 10, Op. 82 (1993-94)
  • Misterioso for Violin and Piano, Op. 83 (1994)
  • Au delà d'une absence for String Quartet, Op. 89 (1997)
  • Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano, Op. 90 (1997-98)
  • Capriccio interrotto for Violin and Piano, Op. 93 (2000)
  • Cinque colori for Flute, Violin, Cello, Percussion and Piano, Op. 94 (2007)
  • String Quartet No. 11, Op. 95 (2001)
  • Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano, Op. 98 (2002)
  • Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2, Op. 99 (2003-2004)
  • Epitaph for Three Cellos and Piano, Op. 100 (2004)
  • Duetti Concertanti for Bassoon and Piano, Op. 101 (2004)
  • Metamorphosis for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Op. 102 (2004)
  • String Quartet No. 12, Op. 103 (2004-2005)
  • Quintet for Four Saxophones and Piano, Op. 107 (2006/2014)
  • Duets for Two Violins, Op. 110 (2008)
  • Quartet for Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano, Op. 112 (2009)
  • String Quartet No. 13, Op. 113 (2009-2010)
  • Imaginary Variations for Violin and Piano, Op. 114 (2010)
  • String Quartet No. 14, Op. 122 (2014)
  • Three Times Four for Cello and Piano, Op. 123 (2014)

 

WORKS FOR SOLO INSTRUMENTS

  • Sonata for Cello No. 1, Op. 1 (1959-61)
  • Sonata for Harpsichord, Op. 30 (1972-73)
  • Sonata for Violin, Op. 36 (1975)
  • Moment musical for cello (1976)
  • Drei Stücke für Schlagzeug und Tonband, Op. 40 (1976)
  • Sonata for Flute, Op. 52 (1980)
  • Six Preludes for Violin (1981)
  • Fantasia for Organ, Op. 75 (1990)
  • Monologue for Cello (1990)
  • Burlesca all'Ongarese for Flute (2006)
  • Sonata for Cello No. 2, Op. 109 (2007)
  • Tryptich for Guitar, Op. 125 (2014)

 

WORKS FOR PIANO

  • Aphorisms, Op. 3 (1961)
  • Sonata No. 1, Op. 5 (1962)
  • Sonata No. 2, Op. 7 (1963)
  • Sonata No. 3, Op. 13 (1964-1966)
  • Sonata No. 4, Op. 22 (1968)
  • Magic Pictures (for children), Op. 21a (1975)
  • Sonata No. 5 ‘Sonata de sons rayonnants՚, Op. 32 (1975-2003)
  • Twenty-Four Preludes, Op. 43 (1977-1978)
  • Children’s Suite, Op. 25a (1978)
  • Quasi una fantasia, Op. 104 (2005)
  • Sonata No. VI ‘Sonata Breve՚, Op. 106 (2006)
  • Sei Intermezzi, Op. 121 (2013)

 

WORKS FOR TWO PIANOS

  • Impromptu multicolore, Op. 92 (2000)

 

WORKS FOR CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA

  • Symphony No. 2 Epitaphium Stanisław Wiechowicz in memoriam for Mixed Choir and Orchestra; Words: Julian Tuwim; Op. 14 (1966-67)
  • Symphony No. 3 Symphony d'Orphee for Mixed Choir and Orchestra; Words: Paul Valéry; Op. 20 (1968)
  • Mass for Mixed Choir, Organ and Orchestra, Op. 68 (1995-96)
  • Schöpfung [Creation] - Oratorio for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra; Words: Gerhard Engelberger; Op. 91 (1999)
  • Symphony No. 8 Sinfonia da Requiem for Mixed Choir and Orchestra; Words: Adam Zagajewski; Op.111 (2008-2009)

 

WORKS FOR A CAPPELA CHOIR

  • Vyelichalnaya [Song of Glorification], Op. 71(1988)
  • Te Deum, Op. 84 (2006)
  • Nehmt hin die Welt; Words: Friedrich Schiller; Op. 120 (2013)

 

WORKS FOR VOICE AND ORCHESTRA

  • Polish Songs for Soprano and Orchestra; Words: Julian Tuwim; Op. 34 (1974)
  • Lyric Triptych for Tenor and Chamber Orchestra; Words: WH Auden; Op. 38 (1976)
  • Chansons d'un rêveur solitaire Six Songs for soprano and orchestra; Words Paul Verlaine; Op. 116 (2011-2012)

 

WORKS FOR VOICE AND CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

  • Quartettino for Soprano, Flute, Cello and Piano; Words: Julian Tuwim; Op. 16 (1966)
  • Five Chamber Music Pieces for Mezzo-Soprano, Clarinet, Violin and Viola (without words), Op. 18 (1967)

 

WORKS FOR VOICE AND PIANO

  • Nine Limericks of Stanisław Jerzy Lec, Op. 45 (1979)
  • Sunday Colloquy in the Street; Words: Julian Tuwim; Op. 54 (1981)

 

ORCHESTRATION

  • Orchestration and editing of the Sonata for Violin and Piano by Dmitri Shostakovich Violin for Violin and Orchestra; Op. 86 (1995)
Krzysztof Meyer at the age of 70.
©
Photo: Bolesław Lutosławski
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