R.I.P Henryk Gorecki

[micrologus]

Yesterday the Polish composer Henryk Gorecki left us.

Let's honour him:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymuF7uG6wis"]YouTube - Henyrk Górecki - Symphony No. 3, Op. 36[/ame]

[Philidor]

Very sad. To show how deep he penetrated into Western culture:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI5h0oo49V4"]YouTube - Gorecki (Lamb Live)[/ame]

[SatiesFaction]

I discovered his magnificent 3rd Symphony only recently. Very sad.

[Alex Daniels]

The third symphony is such a beauty.

[davidgoliath77]

It's funny how everyone knows his 3rd symphony but very few people actually listened to his other works. His string quartets for instance are magnificent. I think they were written for the Kronos Quartet. I love them.

[micrologus]

Originally Posted by davidgoliath77

It's funny how everyone knows his 3rd symphony but very few people actually listened to his other works. His string quartets for instance are magnificent. I think they were written for the Kronos Quartet. I love them.

Indeed, his string quartet is very beautyful. I also love his 2nd symphony.

[davidgoliath77]

Originally Posted by micrologus

Indeed, his string quartet is very beautyful. I also love his 2nd symphony.

There are in fact two string quartets if I remember well. One is very dynamic, the other quite subtle. Both written based on some Polish folk tunes (again, if memory serves me well).

[martinesco]

Originally Posted by davidgoliath77

There are in fact two string quartets if I remember well. One is very dynamic, the other quite subtle. Both written based on some Polish folk tunes (again, if memory serves me well).

Three - there's a new Hyperion CD just out including the 3rd. I don't know the 2nd or 3rd so am looking forward to acquiring and inwardly appropriating this.
In general I am not a great fan of what may be variously described as the new simplicity, minimal music or holy minimalism , but Gorécki has always taken hold of and haunted my mind from that first hearing of the 3rd symphony - with the great Stefania Woytowicz w/Kamirski - that recording is still my co-favourite together with that by Kozlowska/Kord.
Other favourites are the Lerchenmusik (NOT to be translated as Lark Music, as I saw it done once), and the Kleines Requiem für eine Polka. Could one refer to his work, at least in part, as Music of Transcendent Desperation? There is one piece by Lou Reed that I am strangely reminded of when I think of G.: "Street hassle" from the album of the same name, which achieves a similar sort of repetitive transsubstantiative communion. (Note: I am not affiliated to any religious community, Catholic or otherwise.)

[marquis66]

The Third Symphony is really an extraordinary work, full of great, profound meaning. It is one of my favorite pieces, but then again Gorecki is one of my favorite composers The second, "Kopernican" is good.

His String Quartets are also pretty remarkable, in my book - particularly the second.

I have been really enamored with his older, avant garde and serial works lately. "Scontri", is one that I have been analyzing in depth.

[haydnguy]

Originally Posted by martinesco

Three - there's a new Hyperion CD just out including the 3rd. I don't know the 2nd or 3rd so am looking forward to acquiring and inwardly appropriating this.
In general I am not a great fan of what may be variously described as the new simplicity, minimal music or holy minimalism , but Gorécki has always taken hold of and haunted my mind from that first hearing of the 3rd symphony - with the great Stefania Woytowicz w/Kamirski - that recording is still my co-favourite together with that by Kozlowska/Kord.
Other favourites are the Lerchenmusik (NOT to be translated as Lark Music, as I saw it done once), and the Kleines Requiem für eine Polka. Could one refer to his work, at least in part, as Music of Transcendent Desperation? There is one piece by Lou Reed that I am strangely reminded of when I think of G.: "Street hassle" from the album of the same name, which achieves a similar sort of repetitive transsubstantiative communion. (Note: I am not affiliated to any religious community, Catholic or otherwise.)

martin, I looked but I didn't see it on Amazon U.S. with a quick look over. They'll probably be getting it soon.