I probably should be embarrassed but I had not heard about Witold Lutoslawski before I read this article. Wikipedia claims that he “was one of the major European composers of the 20th century, and one of the preeminent Polish musicians during his last three decades. He earned many international awards and prizes, including the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest honor.” However, as the review says, he was not prolific composer and left us only 120 pieces.
The article has two main themes. The first one talks about Witold Lutoslawski’s background. He was born in Poland in 1913. He studied in Warsaw Conservatory in late 1930s. Professors there did not always understand the music of young Witold; one of the teachers could not get his scores and once told him “For me your work is ugly.” What an awful comment. Creative people always have doubts about their abilities. They need constant reassurance of their talents. One can argue that such remark could actually push the young composer to work harder and do better. I would say that this is just one side of a coin. People who have connection with art usually are very sensitive. You have to be careful with what you are saying and how you are saying something. The reaction of the professor could have dramatic consequences and deprive us of the young composer, who later made his contributions to music and received the status of “Poland’s preeminent composer.” Fortunately, young Witold was not affected by the comment and in 1939 “was set to study in Paris, but the German invasion of Poland put an end to that, and he was asked to serve his country.”
The second theme in the article explores Witold Lutoslawski’s works on “third disc in a series of his music.” This part also traces the stages of development of the composer’s style. The reviewer states that Witold was inspired by Stravinsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Rachmaninov. The article mentions many of Lutoslawski’s compositions but I would like to concentrate my review on his Symphony No 4, First Movement. It was his last major work. Tom Huizenga, the author if the article says that “large doses of lyricism prevail in the movement, especially in the dark and ruminative opening where a passionate clarinet line blossoms from a haze of strings.” I would say that the whole movement has this dark, mysterious and at the same time fairy like mood. The first part of this movement, when clarinet has its solo and switches with strings and back, reminded me The Golden Cockerel, the last opera by Rimsky-Korsakov. Therefore, I can agree with Mr. Huizenga’s statement about Lutoslawski’s inspirers. The second part of the movement is full of dissonances. At some point a listener can ask himself whether the piece was written this way or there are some mistakes. In addition, I was expected to hear more resolutions of growing tensions in the work; but here tensions just replace one another. I have listened to five of Lutoslawski’s compositions including Piano Concerto. It has the same dark and mysterious mood and strings do the same kind of “buzzing” as we can notice in the Symphony No 4. Even his Variations on a Theme by Paganini has this darkness and a lot of dissonances. All works by the composer that I have had a chance to listen to created surrealistic images in my mind. Lutoslawski’s style probably has some connections with his war experience. He “was captured by the Germans but escaped after eight days, making his way 100 miles back to Warsaw.” When you listen to the Symphony it is easy to picture him running through forests and fields always turning around to make sure that no one chasing him.
Listening to his music was interesting experience. Art does not have to be pretty and does not have to have major mood to be good. However, for me personally, this music piece is depressing.
Symphony No 4, First Movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSg2lh94wpY
The Golden Cockerel
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