Krzanowski, Andrzej

(1951–1990) 

Born in Bielsko-Biała, he studied at the State High School of Music in Katowice in the composition class of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki (graduating with distinction) and the accordion class of Joachim Pichura. He won awards at numerous competitions, including the Young Composers' Competition of the Polish Composers ̓ Union (1976), Artur Malawski Competition (1976, 1980), Carl Maria von Weber International Competition in Dresden (1978, 1979), competitions in Digne-les-Bains (1981, 1987), and Ancona (1986). 

He received commissions from Krzysztof Penderecki for the Penderecki Festival in Lusławice (Symphony no. 2 for strings). He held a Witold Lutosławski grant (1986) and a scholarship from the Scottish Art Council (1988). 

He was also involved in teaching at the Music Academy in Katowice for almost a quarter of a century. He lectured on modern techniques of accordion playing at Darmstadt (1984-90) and ran courses at the Time of Music Summer Academy in Viitasaari, Finland (1987). 

Having made a spectacular debut at the Young Musicians for a Young City Festival in Stalowa Wola in 1975, Andrzej Krzanowski won reputation as one of the key gures of what was described as the “Stalowa Wola generation,” the “1951 Generation,” and the “new Silesian school.” He died in Czechowice-Dziedzice. 

Selected works: Nocturne, Prelude and Fugue for accordion quintet (1971–75), ree Pieces for oboe and trumpet (1972), Sketches for Clarinet (1972), Sonata for accordion (1972), Canon for accordion (1973), Study I–V for accordion (1973–78), Partita for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1974), Three Studies for soprano, flute and percussion (1974–76), Symphony no. 1 (1975), Canti di Wratislavia for orchestra (1976), String Quartet no. 1 (1976), String Quartet no. 2 (1978), Programmes I–VI for speakers and instruments (1973–82), Transpainting, audiovisual performance (1977), Sonata for tuba (1978), Con vigore, concerto for eight performers (1978), Concerto for orchestra (1978–81), Sonatina for accordion (1979), Three Meditations for accordion (1979), Chorale, Four Bagatelles, Cathedral for accordion (1979), Three Pieces for accordion quintet (1980), Alkagran or a Place on the Right Bank of the Vistula for accordion quintet (1980), The Wind is Spreading the Echo over the Glade for accordion, version A (1981), Little Partita for violin (1981), Salve Regina for unaccompanied boys ̓ or women ̓s choir (1981), Reminiscences for string quartet (1983), Winter Impressions for accordion (1982), Trifle for accordion and bass clarinet (1983), Capriccio for accordion (1983), Spring Impressions for accordion (1983), Relief I–II for accordion (1984-85), Summer Impressions for flute, clarinet and accordion (1984), Symphony no. 2 for 13 strings (1984), Relief III for organ (1985), Relief IV for soprano and tubular bells (1985), Where the Rainbow Ends for percussion and bass clarinet (1985), Three Studies for accordion (1985), Relief V for cello (1985), Relief VI for bass accordion (1986), Autumn Impressions for amplified bass accordion (1986), Divertimento for accordion (1986), Sonata no. 2 for accordion (1987), Four Short Stories for accordion (1987), Nocturne for accordion duo (1987), String Quartet no. 3 (1988), Relief VIII for tape and accordion (1989), Relief IX for string quartet and tape (1988), Sonata for guitar (1990).