Composer, musicologist, graphic artist and professor; born 6 June 1929 in Lwow (now Lviv, Ukraine).

He was interested in music from a very young age. He studied violin and music theory in Opole from 1946-49. Then, from 1949-1953, he studied composition with Artur Malawski at the State Higher School of Music (now Academy of Music) in Krakow. At the same time, in 1949, he began studying musicology under Zdzisław Jachimecki at Krakow's Jagiellonian University. He wrote an extensive thesis on Witold Lutosławski in 1953. During his studies, he composed "The Poetry of Guillaume Appolinaire" for soprano and orchestra (1949) and the avantgarde "Music for String Quartet" (1954). He continued his musical education in 1959 with Luigi Nono. After finishing his studies, he not only composed, but also continued his scholarly work in musicology. During the years 1952-57, he worked in the music section of Polish Radio in Krakow, and in 1953, as deputy to the editor-in-chief, at the main Polish music publishing house, Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne. In 1957, he was deputy to the editor-in-chief of the music magazine "Ruch Muzyczny", and in 1954-8, as a lecturer at the Institute of Musicology at Krakow's Jagiellonian University. Beginning in 1957, he concentrated on composition. Beginning in 1963, he was a lecturer in composition at the Academy of Music in Krakow. He also taught courses in contemporary composition in Salzburg, York and Middelburg. In 1965, he began cooperating with the Experimental Studio (Studio Eksperymentalne) of Polish Radio in Warsaw, during which time he wrote his electronic compositions. During the years 1967-1973, he was the editor-in-chief of the periodical "Forum Musicum" (sixteen issues appeared). In 1970, he received his doctorate at the University of Warsaw. Since 1985, he has also been a professor of composition at the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst "Mozarteum" in Salzburg. He belongs to the artistic association known as the Krakow Group.

Since 1955, Bogusław Schaeffer has also been active as a playwright. By 1994, he had written 29 plays, which were translated into sixteen languages. Since 1969, there have been approximately 60 concerts devoted exclusively to his works, including concerts in Oslo, Amsterdam, Princeton, Mexico City, Salzburg, Stambuł, Berlin and Vienna. He received many awards at composition competitions: in 1959, he won prizes at the Grzegorz Fitelberg Competition for his "Monosonata" for six violin quartets (1959) and "Quattro movimenti" for piano and orchestra (1957), in 1962 - at the Artur Malawski Competition for his "Musica ipsa" for orchestra of Low-pitched Instruments (1962) and "Four Pieces for String Trio" (1962), and in 1964 at the Grzegorz Fitelberg Competition for "Little Symphony (Scultura)" (1960) and "Collage and Form" for Eight Jazzmen and Orchestra (1963). In 1971, he was awarded a prize from the Minister of Culture and Art, and in 1977, received an award from the Union of Polish Composers and of the city of Krakow, and in 1998, one from the Alfred Jurzykowski Foundation in New York. In 1987, he received an award at the Festival of Contemporary Art in Wrocław for his dramatic works. In 1995, he was made an honorary member of the Polish Association of Contemporary Music (the Polish section of the ISCM/SIMC). In 1999, the International Academic Symposium was held at the Jagiellonian University, which was dedicated to his work as composer, playwright and graphic artist, in conjunction with a concert of his works and performances of his plays.

Boguslaw Schaeffer has written more than a dozen books on contemporary music, including "Almanach polskich kompozytorow współczesnych" ("Alamanac of Polish Contemporary Composers") (Kraków: Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne, 1966, rev. ed. 1982); "Nowa Muzyka: Problemy wspolczesnej techniki kompozytorskiej" ("New Music: Problems in Compositional Technique in Contemporary Music") (Krakow: Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne, 1958; rev. ed. 1969); "Maly informator muzyki XX wieku" ("Small Handbook of Twentieth-Century Music") (Krakow: Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne, 1958; rev. ed. 1975); the two-volume "Leksykon kompozytorow XX wieku" ("Lexicon of Twentieth-Century Composers") (Krakow: Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne, 1963, 1965); "Wstep do kompozycji" / "Introduction to Composition" (bilingual edition) (Krakow: Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne, 1976); "Kompozytorzy XX wieku" ("Twentieth-Century Composers") (Krakow: Wydawnictwo Literackie, 1990).

He married Mieczysława Janina Hanuszewska. Their son, Piotr (Mikołaj) Schaeffer is a journalist specialising in the music scene.

"I am active as a composer (over 400 compositions in various genres, from solo works to large-scale symphonies and operas) and as a playwright (I am in the process of writing my thirty-ninth play at the moment; my plays have been translated into seventeen languages, including Estonian, Hungarian and Hebrew; many have had their world premieres abroad), and also as a graphic artist. For more than a decade, my goal has been to create important music by using the latest aesthetic means. In theatre, six of my plays have been performed over 250 times - I try to transfer my experiences as a composer to the stage, I like to experiment as well - my play has been translated and performed in five languages around the world simultaneously. In 1998, I received the Alfred Jurzykowski Award in New York. In May 1999, the International Academic Symposium, organised by the Jagiellonian University, was dedicated to my work as composer, playwright and graphic artist; as part of the Symposium, there were also performances of my plays and a concert of my works." (Boguslaw Schaeffer, in the program for Warsaw Autumn International Festival of Contemporary Music, 1999)

Boguslaw Schaeffer is the most original figure on the Polish musical scene. He is distinguished by his broad artistic interests, his avantgarde approach and his controversial aesthetic views. As a composer, he has been distinguished by his novel technique and boldness in his experimentation with new forms, genres and kinds of music. He was one of the first Polish composers to take up electronic music. The first Polish music "happening" was his work "Non-Stop" (1960). Schaeffer was the first in Poland to work in the genre of instrumental theatre in his work "TIS MW2" (1963), which was written for the well-known experimental group MW2. In virtually every one of his works, Schaeffer has tackled a new compositional problem, thus challenging the Polish music world and provoking lively discussions about the fundamental issues in new music.

The composer himself has classified his work this way: "My compositions can be divided into experimental works (including "Experimenta" - nomen omen, "Azione a due", "Nonet" for three oboists each of whom plays on three oboes at the same time, and about 20 other works that have brought me embarrassment, but also respect, though supposedly one should not experiment in that way), and lighter works (which include compositions such as "Kesukaan" and "Kwartet 2+2"), and serious works (most of my compositions from "Tertium datur" to "Jazz Concerto", "Concerto B-A-C-H" for organ, violin and orchestra, to "Concerto for string quartet and orchestra" and "Orchestral and Electronic Changes") and pleasant works that are nice to write and which simply sound nice.

Boguslaw Schaeffer is also one of new music's outstanding theoreticians. His work "Nowa muzyka: Problemy współczesnej techniki kompozytorskiej" ("New Music: Problems in Compositional Technique in Contemporary Music") (1958) still remains one of the main sources for theory in the field. His "Introduction to Composition" (1976) is the only such handbook of composition of its kind. All of Schaeffer's works have aroused a great deal of interest, as well as controversy. Stefan Kisielewski once called him the "father of new music in Poland".

Most significant compositions:

• "Muzyka / Music", for string quartet (1954)
• "Sonata na skrzypce solo / Sonate for violin solo" (1955)
• "Permutacje / Permutations", for 10 instruments (1956)
• "Model I", for piano (1956)
• "Model II", for piano (1957)
• "Ekstrema / Extremes", for 10 instruments (1957)
• "Kwartet smyczkowy nr 1 / I String Quartet" (1957)
• "Quattro Movimenti (Koncert na fortepian i orkiestre nr 2) / Quattro movimenti (Concerto No. 2 for piano and orchestra)" for piano and orchestra (1957)
• "Tertium datur", for harpsichord and chamber orchestra (1958)
• "Concerto breve", for cello and orchestra (1959)
• "Koncert na kwartet smyczkowy / Concerto for String Quartet" (1959)
• "Monosonata / Monosonate", for 6 string quartets (1959)
• "Equivalenze sonore", for percussion chamber orchestra (1959)
• "Mala symfonia (scultura) / Little Symphony: Scultura" for Orchestra (1960)
• "Konstrukcje laczne / Combined Constructions", for string orchestra (1960)
• "Concerto per sei e tre", for free instrument (clarinet, saxophone, violin, cello, percussion and piano) and 3 orchestras (1960)
• "Montaggio" for six performers (1960)
• "Topofonica" for 40 instruments (1960)
• "Azione a due", for piano and 11 instruments (1961)
• "Imago musicae", for violin with an interpolating instrumental accompaniment (1961)
• "Kody / Kodes", for chamber orchestra (1961)
• "Model III", for piano (1961)
• "Musica", for harpsichord and orchestra (1961)
• "Koncert na skrzypce i orkiestre / Concerto for violin and orchestra" (1961-63)
• Course "J", for Jazz- and chamber symphonic orchestra (1962)
• "Musica ipsa" for the Orchestra of Low-pitched Instruments (1962)
• "Cztery utwory / Four Pieces", for string trio (1962)
• "TIS MW2 / TIS MW2: Scene Composition", metamusical, audiovisual show for actor, mime, ballerina and 5 musicians, (1962-63)
• "Aspekty ekspresyjne / Expressive Aspekte", for soprano and flute (1963)
• "S'alto", for saxophone and chamber orchestra of soloists (1963)
• "Model IV", for piano (1963)
• "TIS GK / TIS GK: Scene Composition", for piano (1963)
• "Music for Mi", for vibraphone, 6 narrators, jazz ensemble and orchestra (1963)
• "Collage and Form", for 8 jazz musicians and orchestra (1963)
• "Scenariusz dla nie istniejacego, lecz mozliwego aktora instrumentalnego / Scenario, for a not existing but possible instrumental actor" (1963)
• "Audiencje I-V / Audience I-V", for actors (1964)
• "Kwartet smyczkowy nr 2 / String Quartet No.2" (1964)
• "Collage", for chamber orchestra (1964)
• "Symfonia: Muzyka elektroniczna / Symphony, electronic music" for tape (1964)
• "Kwartet dla dwu pianistow i dwu dowolnych wykonawcow (kwartet 2+2) / Quartet, for two pianists and any other two performers (Quartet 2 + 2)" (1965)
• "Model V", for piano (1965)
• "Przeslanie / Transmission", for cello and two pianos (1965)
• "Howl", for narrator, 2 actors and chamber orchestra (1966)
• "Kwartet dla czterech aktorow / Quartet for 4 actors" (1966)
• "Kwartet na oboj i trio smyczkowe / Oboe Quartet, for oboe and string trio" (1966)
• "Trio na flet, harfe, altowke i tasme / Trio, for flute, harp, viola and tape" (1966)
• "Koncert na fortepian i orkiestre / Concerto for piano and orchestra" (1967)
• "Media", for voices and instruments (1967)
• "Symfonia: Muzyka orkiestrowa / Symphony, music for orchestra" (1967)
• "Koncert na tasme / Concerto for tape" (1968)
• "Koncert jazzowy / Jazz Concerto" for jazz group and an orchestra of flutes, bassoons, trumpets, trombones and low-pitched stringed instruments (1969)
• "Trio na fortepian, skrzypce i wiolonczele / Trio for piano, violin and cello" (1969)
• "Heraklitiana" for solo and tape for 12 alternative performers (1970)
• "Scenariusz dla 3 aktorow / Script for three actors" (1970)
• "Model VI" for piano (1970)
• "Teksty / Texts" for orchestra (1971)
• "Estratto", for string trio (1971)
• "Model VII" for piano (1971)
• "Kwartet smyczkowy nr 3 / String Quartet no. 3" (1971)
• "Mare Concertino" for piano and 9 instruments (1971)
• "Experimenta", for a pianist (on two pianos) and orchestra (1971)
• "Warianty / Variants", for brass quintet (1971)
• "Sgraffito" for flute, cello, 2 pianos and harpsichord (1971)
• "Konfrontacje / Confrontations", for a solo instrument and orchestra (1972)
• "Model VIII" for piano (1972)
• "Hommage a Czyzewski", for theatrical troupe and musical ensemble (1972)
• "Concerto for three pianos" (1972)
• "Bergsoniana", for flute, soprano, piano, horn, double bass and tape (1972)
• "Blues no. 1", for 2 pianos and tape (1972)
• "Sny o Schaefferze / Dreams about Schaffer", for ensemble of performers (1972)
• "Blues no. 2", for instrumental ensemble (1972)
• "Free Form no. 1" for 5 instruments (1972)
• "Free Form no. 2 (Evocazioni)" for double bass (1972)
• "Symfonia w 9 czesciach / Symphonie in 9 Pieces", for orchestra and six solo instruments (1973)
• "Kwartet smyczkowy nr 4 / String Quartet no. 4" (1973)
• "Tentative Music" [version I] for 1 instrument (1973)
• "Tentative Music" [version II] for 5 instruments (1973)
• "Tentative Music" [version III] for 9 instruments (1973)
• "Tentative Music" [version IV] for 15 instruments (1973)
• "Tentative Music" [version V] for 19 instruments (1973)
• "Tentative Music" [version VI] for 59 instruments (1973)
• "Tentative Music" [version VII] for 159 instruments (1973)
• "Open Music no. 2" for piano and tape (1975)
• "Open Music no. 3" for piano and tape (1975)
• "Uwertura warszawska (Harmonie i kontrapunkty I) / Warsaw Overture (Harmonies and counterpoint I)" for orchestra (1975)
• "Missa Elettronica" [version I] for boys' choir and tape (1975)
• "Missa Elettronica" [version II] for mixed choir and tape (1975)
• "Romuald Traugutt (Harmonie i kontrapunkty II) / Romuald Traugutt (Harmonies and counterpoints II)" for orchestra (1976)
• "Model IX" for piano (1976)
• "Spinoziana", for ensemble (1977)
• "Model X" for piano (1977)
• "Gravesono" for ensemble of wind instruments and percussion (1977)
• "Blues no. 3" for 2 pianos (1978)
• "Vaniniana", for 2 actors and soprano, piano, cello and electronics (1978)
• "Kesukaan" for 13 stringed instruments (1978)
• "Miserere" for soprano, mixed choir, orchestra and tape (1978)
• "Heideggeriana" for 11 instruments (1979)
• "Jangwa" for double bass and orchestra (1979)
• "Te Deum" for voices, vocal ensemble and orchestra (1979)
• "Maah" for orchestra and tape (1979)
• "Berlin '80/I (Tornerai)" for piano, syn-lab, electronic media and tape (1980)
• "Berlin '80/II (In jener Zeit)" for piano, syn-lab, electronic media and tape (1980)
• "Koncert na kwartet saksofonowy / Concerto for saxophone quartet" (1980)
• "Oktet / Octet" for wind instruments and double bass (1980)
• "Entertainment Music" for orchestra of wind and percussion (1981)
• "Five Introductions and An Epilogue" for small chamber orchestra (1981)
• "Model XI (Ngazi)" for piano (1981)
• "Addolorato" for violin and tape (1981)
• "Teatrino Fantastico" for actor, violin and piano, with multimedia and tape (1983)
• "Stabat Mater" for soprano, alto, mixed choir, strings and organ (1983)
• "Gasab" for a Gasab-violin and piano (1983)
• "Open Music no. 4" for piano and tape (1983)
• "Koncert na gitare i orkiestre / Concerto for guitar and orchestra" (1984)
• "Model XII (Machar)" for piano (1984)
• "Koncert na akordeon i orkiestre / Concerto for accordion and orchestra" (1984)
• "Koncert na organy, skrzypce i orkiestre (B-A-C-H) / Concerto for organ, violin and orchestra (B-A-C-H)" (1984)
• Sonata nr 1 "Wiosna" / Sonata no. 1 "Spring" for organ (1985)
• Sonata nr 2 "Lato" / Sonata no. 2 "Summer" for organ (1985)
• Sonata nr 3 "Jesien" / Sonata no. 3 "Autumn" for organ (1986)
• "Schpass (Nonet)" for 3 oboes (1986)
• "Kwaiwa" for violin and computer (1986)
• "Missa Sinfonica" for soprano, violin, soprano saxophone and orchestra (1986)
• "Koncert na flet, harfe i orkiestre / Concerto for flute, harp and orchestra" (1986)
• "Kwartet smyczkowy nr 5 / String Quartet no. 5" (1986)
• Sonata nr 4 "Zima" / Sonata no. 4 "Winter" for organ (1986)
• "Koncert na saksofon i orkiestre / Concerto for saxophone and orchestra" (1986)
• "Model XIII (Mikrosonate)" for piano (1986)
• "Koncert na skrzypce, Gasab-skrzypce, 2 oboje, rozek angielski i orkiestre / Concerto for violin, Gasab-violin, 2 oboes, English horn and orchestra" (1986)
• "Maly koncert na skrzypce i 3 oboje / Small Concerto for violin and 3 oboes" (1987)
• "Free Form no. 3" for double bass and piano (1987)
• "Acontecimiento" for 3 pianos and computer (1988)
• "Model XIV (Halatsah)" for piano (1988)
• "Model XV (Sahihi)" for piano (1988)
• "Koncert podwojny na 2 skrzypiec i orkiestre / Double Concerto for 2 violins and orchestra" (1988)
• "Koncert na perkusje jazzowa, fortepian i orkiestre / Concerto for jazz percussion, piano and orchestra" (1988)
• "Koncert na 2 fortepiany (8 rak) i orkiestre / Concerto for 2 pianos (8 hands) and orchestra" (1988)
• "Blues no. 4" for 2 pianos and tape (1988)
• "Sinfonia" for orchestra (1988)
• "Koncert na fortepian i orkiestre nr 3 / Concerto for piano and orchestra no. 3" (1988-90)
• "Liebesbliecke", opera (1990)
• "Liturgische Sätze" for solo voices, choir and orchestra (1991)
• "Kesukaan II" for 13 stringed instruments (1991)
• "Model XVI" for piano (1991)
• "Blues no. 5" for piano and orchestra (1992)
• "Symfonia nr 6 / Symphony no. 6" for orchestra (1993)
• "Kwartet smyczkowy nr 6 / String Quartet no. 6" (1993)
• "Bewegnung" (Movement) for oboe, piano, percussion (1994)
• "Love Song" for string orchestra (1994)
• "Megasonata" for piano (1994)
• "Leopolis" for violin and orchestra (1994)
• "Orchestral and Electronic Changes" for amplified instruments and orchestra (1994)
• "Koncert na klarnet i orkiestre / Concerto for clarinet and orchestra" (1995)
• "Septet" for oboe, bass clarinet, cello and percussion (1995)
• "Hommage a Guillaume Schaeffer" for 2 cellos and piano (1995)
• "Sinfonietta" for chamber orchestra (1995)
• "Trio na flet, altówkę i gitarę / Trio for flute, viola and guitar" (1995)
• "Hommage a Roman Haubenstock-RamatI" for instrumental ensemble (1995)
• "Oscenoi" for clarinet, soprano and instruments (1995)
• "Koncert na klarnet i 5 instrumentow / Concerto for clarinet and 5 instruments" (1996)
• "Hommage a Barbara Buczek" for 2 saxophones (1996)
• "Koncert na flet i orkiestre / Concerto for flute and orchestra" (1996)
• "Koncert na skrzypce, fortepian i orkiestre / Concerto for violin, piano and orchestra" (1997)
• "Symfonia nr 7 / Symphony no. 7" for orchestra (1997)
• "Kwartet na fortepian, skrzypce, altowke i wiolonczele / Quartet for piano, violin, viola and cello" (1997)
• "Koncert na altowke i orkiestre / Concerto for viola and orchestra" (1997)
• "Kwartet smyczkowy nr 7 / String Quartet no. 7" (1997)
• "Monophonie I" for 16 flutes (1997)
• "Enigma" for large orchestra (1997)
• "Musica dell' avvenire" for orchestra of percussion instruments (1997)
• "Concerto da camera" for 18 different instruments (1997)
• "Monophonie II" for 13 violas (1997)
• "Sexternus", graphic music for 6 pianos (1998)
• "Max Ernst Variations" for saxophone, accordion, piano and computer (1998)
• "Kwartet smyczkowy nr 8 / String Quartet no. 8" (1998)
• "Koncert na fagot i orkiestre / Concerto for bassoon and orchestra" (1998)
• "Monophonie III" for 12 oboes (1998)
• "Monophonie IV" for 8 English horns (1998)
• "Monophonie V" for 12 cellos (1999)
• "Monophonie VI" for 12 trumpets (1999)
• "Monophonie VII" for 17 saxophones (1999)
• "Kwartet smyczkowy nr 9 / String Quartet no. 9" (1999)
• "Koncert na fortepian i orkiestre nr 4 / Concerto no. 4 for piano and orchestra" (1999)
• "Cztery psalmy / Four Psalms" for large choir and orchestra (1999)
• "Mikrosonate" for chamber orchestra (1999)
• "Das Leben einer Stadt" for orchestra, 3 sopranos and electronic media (1999)
• "Sześć Etiud / Six etudes" for string quartet (1999)

Polish Music Information Center, Polish Composers' Union, March 2002

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