Stachowski, Marek (1936-2004)
Pezzo Grazioso (10:00) 1982 Publisher: PWM (c1995)
Instrumentation: flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon
This work, even though written in 1982, exhibits the same nostalgic leaning towards classical forms of expression that can be heard in Polish chamber music throughout the 60s. However, the difference is that the composer develops these forms into unexpected unformed material that includes novel sounds and patterns. These in turn move away from the neoclassical effects only to return at the end to a major triad. The composition starts with the horn playing an ostinato rhythm repeated on the same note. Soon, the other instruments gradually join the horn. This ends with a long fermata in the horn and turns unexpectedly into running sixteenth notes voiced in pairs. In sound and material treatment this is very similar to Elliot Carter’s Etiude no. 8 written for wind quartet.
The most challenging aspects of the piece are its technical demands and some complex rhythmic ensemble playing that will need very careful rehearsing. It is a rewording piece of music for the listener and for the ensemble.
Grade: V-VI
Recordings: Warsaw Wind Quintet Da Camera, Label ProViva
Sheet music source: pwm.com.pl, sheetmusicplus.com
Marek Stachowski
Born in Piekary Śląskie on March 21, 1936 and died in Kraków on December 3, 2004.
He was a composer, music theorist and teacher. From 1952 he studied piano with S. Czerny, first at a primary school and later in music high school in Kraków. He continued his study at PWSM in Kraków majoring in music theory. In 1963 he began to study composition with Krzysztof Penderecki. In 1968 he graduated from the PWSM in Krakow and started to work at this institution. In 1975 he lectured composition at Yale University, and in the years that followed he often taught compositional courses at such music schools as Durham University, UK; Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Rubin Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem, Royal Academy of Music in London.
From 1967 he had his own composition studio at the Academy of Music (PWSM) in Krakow in the subsequent years he had a role of a professor and later rector. Stachowski is a winner of many awards for his compositions and as well for his teaching. The most notable ward outside of Poland for his composition is the International Composer’s Rostrum UNESCO in Paris where he won in 1979 and in 1990. In 1998 he was awarded the Excellence of Teaching Award presented every year by the Robinson Foundation (USA). His compositional output contains about 50 compositions.
His writing style exhibits profound originality of language with two main stylistic periods. First is an avant-garde period (sonorism) that lasts until 1976, second period is the traditional way of writing, where Stachowski turns to similar melody construction as Debussy or Ravel. The most important intervals for him at this period are minor third and triton. He turns his last pieces that he writes to neo-classical or neo-romantic style.