Łukaszewski, Wojciech (1936-1978)
Suite in the Early Style/Suita w dawnym stylu (14:00) 1977 Publisher: AA (c1979)
Preludium
Fughetta
Gavotte/Gawot
Rondo
Instrumentation: flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon
The work is true to its title – “in the early style”. It begins with the chant-like, atonal Preludium played by a pair of voices, (oboe and clarinet), joined gradually by other instruments. Fughetta follows the strict form and also strict atonality. Gavotte is written in 2/4 , which is atypical for this dance which usually is written in 4/4 or 2/2. Occasionally it is in 9/8 or 5/8. It also lacks the dance-like characteristic. Rondo is graceful and light, the best movement of the work.
Performance of this piece is not complicated. The horn part in the Fughetta is awkward for the player to play.
Grade: III
Recordings: none
Sheet music source: out of print
Wojciech Łukaszewski
Born in Częstochowa on March 10, 1936 and died in Częstochowa on April 13, 1978.
He was a composer, teacher and a music critic. He went to Primary and Secondary School of Music in Częstochowa where he majored in piano performance. From 1960-65 he studied composition at the PWSM in Warsaw with T. Szeligowski and T. Paciorkiewicz. He continued his study of compositional craft with Nadia Boulanger in Paris between 1966-67. After his return to Poland he assumed a yearly teaching position at PWSM in Warsaw. Following year he assumed a teaching position at PSM (Primary and Secondary School of Music) in Częstochowa, becoming the director in 1971.
Apart from composing he was involved in creating various musical events, writing music programs for Częstochowa Philharmonic, writing reviews and music columns in the press. He also created and became a vice-chair of Częstochowa Music Society. In the 60s and 70s his compositions received numerous prizes at compositional competitions in Poland. His compositional output includes 61 works, such as orchestral, chamber, piano, solo voice, choral, vocal-instrumental, and educational composition. His works compositional style varies, from romantic, neoclassical to modern control techniques of aleatoricism.