Karol Szymanowski

(Tymoszówka [Poland/Ukraine], 1882 – Lausanne [Switzerland], 1937)

Karol Szymanowski was a Polish pianist and composer, one of Poland's most distinguished composers, representing the 'Young Poland' movement. He began his musical education under his father's guidance in 1889, subsequently pursuing professional musical studies in Yelizavetgrad (Elisavetgrad) and then Warsaw. Although the piano was his primary instrument, he was never recognized as a virtuoso. Upon completing his musical studies in 1905, he traveled to Italy with the poet Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, and later founded the 'Young Polish Composers' Publishing Company,' comprising members who would come to be known as the 'Young Poland' movement in music.

In 1906, the company commenced concert activities in Warsaw and Berlin. Szymanowski subsequently visited Berlin and Leipzig numerous times over the following years, also extending his travels to Italy in 1908. In 1912, he established his base in Vienna and entered into a collaborative relationship with Universal Edition, which continues to publish some of Szymanowski's works to this day. From 1914 to 1922, he traveled through Italy, France, England, Russia, North Africa, and America. After World War I, he first visited Zakopane in 1922, and through repeated visits to the region, he deepened his knowledge of Polish folklore. From 1927 to 1932, Szymanowski served as the rector of the Warsaw Conservatory (reorganized as the 'Higher School of Music in Warsaw' in 1930). From 1930 onwards, he resided in his villa 'Atma' in Zakopane. The building continues to serve as a museum dedicated to his works.

Szymanowski gave concerts across Europe from 1933 to 1936, but his frequent travels deteriorated his health, eventually leading to tuberculosis. In his later years, he visited sanatoriums in France and Switzerland multiple times. He died in Lausanne in 1937.

Karol Szymanowski's works are rooted in the late Romantic tradition, yet they also frequently exhibit Impressionistic influences. Oriental influences, gained from his visits to North Africa, are incorporated into his compositions, exemplified by The Mad Muezzin's Songs. Furthermore, elements of traditional Polish folklore, deepened through his frequent stays in Zakopane, are masterfully fused in works such as Kurpie Songs and the ballet Harnasie. His early compositions predominantly consist of instrumental works, such as Preludes for Piano, while his later period focuses on orchestral works, including operas, and instrumental works with vocal parts.

Major Works

• 9 Preludes for piano, Op. 1 (1899–1900)
• 6 Songs for solo voice and piano, to poems by Kazimierz Tetmajer (1900–02)
• 4 Etudes for piano, Op. 4 (1900–02)
• Variations on a Polish Folk Theme in B minor for piano, Op. 10 (1900–04)
• Variations in B-flat minor for piano, Op. 3 (1900–03)
• 3 Fragments from Poems by Jan Kasprowicz for solo voice and piano, Op. 5 (1902)
• Piano Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8 (1903–04)
• Salome for solo voice and orchestra, to a poem by Jan Kasprowicz, Op. 6 (1904)
• The Swan, song for solo voice and piano, to a poem by Wacław Berent, Op. 7 (1904)
• Sonata in D minor for violin and piano, Op. 9 (1904)
• 4 Songs for solo voice and piano, to poems by Tadeusz Miciński, Op. 11 (1904–05)
• Concert Overture in E major for orchestra, Op. 12 (1904–05)
• Fantasy in C major for piano, Op. 14 (1905)
• 5 Songs for solo voice and piano, Op. 13 (1905–07)
• Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor for piano (1905–09)
• Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 15 (1906–07)
• Trio for piano, violin, and cello, Op. 16 (1907)
• 12 Songs for solo voice and piano, Op. 17 (1907)
• Penthesilea, song for solo voice and orchestra, to a poem by Stanisław Wyspiański, Op. 18 (1908)
• The Lottery for Husbands, operetta in 3 acts (1908–09)
• 6 Songs for solo voice and piano, to poems by Tadeusz Miciński, Op. 20 (1909)
• Symphony No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19 (1909–10)
• Colorful Songs for solo voice and piano, Op. 22 (1910)
• Romance in D major for violin and piano, Op. 23 (1910)
• Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 21 (1910–11)
• Love Songs of Hafiz for solo voice and piano, Op. 24 (1911)
• Hagith, opera in 1 act, Op. 25 (1912–13)
• Love Songs of Hafiz for solo voice and orchestra, Op. 26 (1914)
• Symphony No. 3 “Song of the Night” for tenor (or soprano) solo, mixed choir, and orchestra, Op. 27 (1914–16)
• Nocturne and Tarantella for violin and piano, Op. 28 (1915)
• Métopes, 3 poems for piano, Op. 29 (1915)
• Myths, 3 poems for violin and piano, Op. 30 (1915)
• Songs of the Fairy Princess for solo voice and piano, Op. 31 (1915)
• 3 Songs for solo voice and piano, to poems by Dimitr Davidov, Op. 32 (1915)
• Masques, 3 pieces for piano, Op. 34 (1915–16)
• 12 Etudes for piano, Op. 33 (1916)
• Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 35 (1916)
• Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 36 (1917)
• String Quartet No. 1, Op. 37 (1917)
• Demeter for alto solo, female choir, and orchestra, Op. 37b (1917)
• Agaue for alto solo, female choir, and orchestra, Op. 38 (1917)
• 3 Caprices of Paganini for violin and piano, Op. 40 (1918)
• 4 Songs for solo voice and piano, to poems by Rabindranath Tagore, Op. 41 (1918)
• The Mad Muezzin's Songs for soprano solo and piano, Op. 42 (1918)
• King Roger, opera in 3 acts, Op. 46 (1918–24)
• Mandragora, pantomime for orchestra, Op. 43 (1920)
• Solemn March for orchestra (1920)
• Słopiewnie, 5 songs for solo voice and piano, to poems by Julian Tuwim, Op. 46b (1921)
• 3 Lullabies for solo voice and piano, Op. 48 (1922)
• Children's Songs, 20 songs for solo voice and piano, to poems by Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna, Op. 49 (1922–23)
• Harnasie, ballet-pantomime in 3 scenes for tenor solo, mixed choir, and orchestra, Op. 55 (1923–31)
• Young Mountaineers Go to the Valley Singing, mountaineer song for solo voice and piano (1924)
• 20 Mazurkas for piano, Op. 50 (1924–25)
• 2 Basque Songs for solo voice and piano, Op. 44 (1925)
• Potemkin, music for Act 5 of Tadeusz Miciński's dramatic poem, Op. 51 (1925)
• Lullaby for violin and piano, Op. 52 (1925)
• Stabat Mater for 3 solo voices, mixed choir, and orchestra, Op. 53 (1925–26)
• 4 Songs for solo voice and piano, to poems by James Joyce, Op. 54 (1926)
• String Quartet No. 2, Op. 56 (1927)
• Vocalise-Etude for solo voice and piano (1928)
• 6 Kurpie Songs for unaccompanied mixed choir (1928–29)
• Veni Creator for soprano solo, mixed choir, organ, and orchestra, to a translation by Stanisław Wyspiański, Op. 57 (1930)
• Kurpie Songs for solo voice and piano, Op. 58 (1930–32)
• Litany to the Virgin Mary, 2 fragments for soprano solo, female choir, and orchestra, Op. 59 (1930–33)
• Symphony No. 4 (Symphonie Concertante) for piano and orchestra, Op. 60 (1932)
• Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 61 (1932–33)
• 2 Mazurkas for piano, Op. 62 (1933–34)