Composer, born 6 December 1933 in Czernica, near Rybnik.

He began his formal study of music in 1952 in the pedagogical department of the Music High School in Rybnik. Later, he studied composition under Bolesław Szabelski, at the State Academy of Music (known today as the Academy of Music) in Katowice (1955-60). On 27 February 1958, a concert of Górecki's own work took place, the first such concert devoted to the work of just one student in the history of that school. Five pieces were performed for the first time at that concert, including the first version of "Songs of Joy and Rhythm, op. 7", ("Pieśni o radości i rytmie op. 7") for two pianos and chamber orchestra (1956) and "Concerto for five instruments and string quartet, op. 11" (1957).

That same year, he debuted at the "Warsaw Autumn" (Warszawska Jesień) International Festival of Contemporary Music, where his "Epitafium, op. 12", for mixed choir and instrumental ensemble (1958) was performed. Thanks to that work, Górecki became known as one of Poland's most radical avantgarde composers. In 1960, he graduated from the Academy with honours. That same year, his "Monologhi, op. 16", for soprano and three instrumental groups (1960) won First Prize at the Young Polish Composers Competition. At the "Warsaw Autumn" Festival, on 21 September 1960, his "Scontri (Collisions), op. 17", for orchestra (1960), caused a sensation. In 1961, Górecki was active in Paris, where his "First Symphony, op. 14" (1959) won First Prize at the Youth Biennale. In Paris, he met with Pierre Boulez, and in Cologne, with Karlheinz Stockhausen.

In 1965, Górecki began to work at the Academy of Music in Katowice, in 1968 as a lecturer, and in 1972 as an assistant professor; he taught score-reading, orchestration and composition. In 1973-74, thanks to the support of the Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service), he spent time in Berlin. In 1975, he was rector of the Academy of Music in Katowice; he held this position for four years. In 1977, he was granted the title of assistant professor. Among his students were Eugeniusz Knapik, Andrzej Krzanowski and Rafal Augustyn.

Górecki won many awards: in 1967, his "Refren (Refrain), op. 21 for orchestra" (1965) took third place in the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers in Paris; in 1968, his "Kantata (Cantata), op. 26" for organ (1968) won first prize at the Szczecin Composers' Competition; in 1973, his "Ad Matrem, op. 29, for solo soprano, mixed choir and orchestra" (1971) won first prize at the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers in Paris. Górecki also won the Music Award of the Katowice voivodship (1958 and 1975), the award of the Minister of Culture and Art (Third prize, 1965; First prize, 1969 and 1973); the award of the Polish Composers' Union (1970); the award of the Committee for Radio and Television Affairs (1974); the First State Prize (1976); the Award of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (1992). In 1994, Gorecki was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Warsaw.

He married Jadwiga Rurańska, a pianist, and has two children - Anna, who is a pianist, and a son, Mikołaj, who is a composer.

Henryk Mikołaj Górecki began his career as an extremely avantgarde composer. His work "Scontri", performed for the first time at the "Warsaw Autumn" International Festival of Contemporary Music in 1960 challenged audiences and became a symbol of the Polish musical avant garde with its shocking modernity. In 1976, Górecki produced yet another challenge in the shape of his "Third Symphony, Symphony of Lamentation Songs", also performed at the "Warsaw Autumn" International Festival of Contemporary Music. This work was radically different, in which he simplified his language and reduced his means of expression. Some hailed him as a genius, others accused him of being a dilettante. The composer would have remained one of the many avantgarde composers "converted" to traditional music, if it had not been for the unusual events of sixteen years later. In 1992, the "Third Symphony" was first on the American and English bestseller lists, and the entire world was talking about Górecki. This was thanks to the American label Elektra Nonesuch and its recording of the "Symphony" by the American singer Dawn Upshaw and the London Sinfonietta, conducted by David Zinman. The English radio "Classic FM" played excerpts from day and night, on request from its listeners. Both classical music lovers and people who had nothing at all in common with classical music listened to it, like young people and long-haul truck drivers. Górecki, with his simple yet fiery music, reached the hearts of them all, revealing the world of the most basic emotions of all.

Compositions:

• "Four Preludes / Cztery preludia, op. 1 for piano" (1955)
• "Sonata for piano / Sonata na fortepian, No. 1, op. 6" (1956)
• "Songs of Joy and Rhythm / Pieśni o Radości i Rytmie, op. 7 for 2 pianos and chamber orchestra" (1959, rev.1960)
• "Sonata, op. 10 for 2 violins" (1957)
• "Concerto for flute, clarinet, trumpet, xylophone, mandolin and string quartet / Koncert na pięć instrumentów i kwartet smyczkowy, op. 11" (1957)
• "Epitaph / Epitafium, op. 12 for mixed choir and instruments" (1958)
• "Five Compositions / Pięć utworów, op. 13 for two pianos" (1959)
• "Symphony No. 1, op. 14 for strings and percussion" (1959)
• "Three Diagrams / Trzy diagramy, op. 15 for solo flute" (1959)
• "Monologhi, op. 16 for soprano and three groups of instruments" (1960)
• "Scontri (Collisions), op. 17 for orchestra" (1960)
• "Diagram IV, op. 18 for flute solo" (1961)
• "Genesis I: Elementi / Genesis - I. Elementi per tre archi, op. 19, No. 1 for string trio" (1962)
• "Genesis II: Canti strumentali / Genesis - II. Canti strumentali per 15 esecutori, op. 19, No. 2 for 15 players" (1962)
• "Genesis III: Monodramma / Genesis - III. Monodramma per soprano, metalli di percussione e sei violbassi, op. 19, No. 3 for soprano, metal percussion and 6 double basses" (1963)
• "3 Pieces in old style / Trzy utwory w dawnym stylu for string orchestra" (1963)
• "Choros I / Choros I per strumenti ad arco, op. 20 for strings" (1964)
• "Refrain / Refren, op. 21 for orchestra" (1965)
• "La Musiquette I (Muzyczka I), op. 22 for 2 trumpets and guitar" (1967)
• "La Musiquette II (Muzyczka II), op. 23 for 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 2 pianos and percussion" (1967)
• "Old Polish Music / Muzyka staropolska, op. 24 for brass instruments and strings" (1967-1969)
• "La Musiquette III (Muzyczka III), op. 25 for violas" (1967)
• "Kantata, op. 26 for organ" (1968)
• "Canticum Graduum, op. 27 for orchestra" (1969)
• "La Musiquette ,'The Trombone Concerto' / La Musiquette (Muzyczka) 'Koncert puzonowy', op. 28 for clarinet, trombone, cello and piano" (1970)
• "Ad Matrem, op. 29 for solo soprano, mixed choir and orchestra" (1971)
• "Two Sacred Songs / Dwie pieśni sakralne, op. 30 for solo baritone and orchestra" (1971)
• "Symphony No. 2 'Copernican' / Symfonia nr 2 'Kopernikowska', op. 31 for solo soprano and baritone, choir and orchestra" (1972)
• "Euntes ibant et flebant, op. 32, for choir a cappella" (1972-1973)
• "Amen, op. 35 for choir a cappella" (1975)
• "Symphony No. 3 'Symphony of Lamentation Songs' / Symfonia nr 3 'Symfonia pieśni żałosnych', op. 36 for solo soprano and orchestra" (1976)
• "Beatus vir, op. 38, psalm for solo baritone, choir and large orchestra" (1979)
• "Concerto for harpsichord (or piano), and string orchestra / Koncert na klawesyn (lub fortepian) i orkiestrę smyczkowa, op. 40" (1980)
• "Blessed Raspberry Songs / Błogosławione pieśni malinowe, op. 43 for voice and piano" (1980)
• "Miserere, op. 44 for choir a cappella" (1981-1987)
• "Two Songs of Juliusz Słowacki / Śpiewy do słów Juliusza Słowackiego, op. 48 for voice and piano" (1983)
• "Lerchenmusik / Recitativa i Ariosa 'Lerchenmusik', op. 53 for clarinet, cello and piano" (1984-1985)
• "Five Marian Songs / Pieśni maryjne, op. 54 for choir a cappella" (1985)
• "O Domina Nostra: Meditations on our Lady of Jasna Góra / O Domina Nostra op. 55 - Medytacje o Jasnogórskiej Pani Naszej, op. 55 for soprano and organ" (1982-1985)
• "Under Your Protection: Marian Song / Pod Twoją Obronę, op. 56 for eight-voice mixed choir" (1985)
• "Angelus Domini / Na Anioł Pański biją dzwony, op. 57, for mixed choir a capella" (1986)
• "For You, Anne-Lill / Dla ciebie, Anne-Lill, op. 58 for flute and piano" (1986)
• "Totus Tuus, op. 60 for mixed choir a cappella" (1987)
• "Already It is Dusk. String quartet, No. 1 / Już się zmierzcha. Kwartet smyczkowy nr 1, op. 62" (1988)
• "Good Night / Dobranoc, op. 63 for soprano, alto flute, piano and 3 tam-tams" (1988-1990)
• "Intermezzo for piano" (1990)
• "Quasi una fantasia. String quartet No. 2 / Quasi una fantasia. Kwartet Smyczkowy nr 2, op. 64" (1990-1991)
• "Concerto-cantata, op. 65 for solo flute and orchestra" (1991-1992)
• "Małe requiem dla pewnej Polki op. 66 (Kleines Requiem für eine Polka) for piano and thirteen instruments" (1993)
• "Piece for string quartet" (1993)
• "Trzy fragmenty do słów Stanisława Wyspiańskiego", song cycle for voice and piano (1996)
• "Salve sidus polonorum: Cantata about St. Adalbert / Salve sidus polonorum. Kantata o św. Wojciechu, op. 72 for large mixed choir, two pianos, organ and group of percussion instruments" (1997-2000)
• "String Quartet No. 3 / Kwartet smyczkowy nr 3" (1999)
• "Lobgesang for mixed choir and tubular bells" (1999)
• "Niech nam żyją i śpiewają for vocal group" (2000)
• "Hej, z góry, z góry! koniku bury", five songs from Kurpie region for a cappella choir (2002)

Source: Polish Music Information Center, Polish Composers' Union, November 2001; updated: March 2004.

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