Personalities | Henryk Górecki | Contemporary | Classical

(On-rikh Gor’-rets-ke) 1933–2010
Polish composer

As a young composer, Górecki made a name for himself as a leading member of the Polish avant-garde in works such as Scontri (1960) for orchestra. During the following decade he moved towards a more emotionally expressive and modal musical language, incorporating elements of Polish traditional and sacred music. The Symphony No. 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, 1976) demonstrates a searing spiritual directness: the work gained a wide audience two decades later, when the recording conducted by David Zinman unexpectedly entered the album charts, selling over a million copies. Górecki is otherwise best known for his choral works, such as the Beatus Vir, performed on the visit of Pope John Paul II to Poland in 1979, the Miserere (1981) and Totus tuus (1987).

Recommended Recording:
Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, Dawn Upshaw, London Sinfonietta (cond) David Zinman (Nonesuch/Warner)

Introduction | Contemporary | Classical
Personalities | Heinz Karl (H.K.) Gruber | Contemporary | Classical

AUTHORITATIVE

An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...

CURATED

Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.

Rock, A Life Story

Rock, A Life Story

The ultimate story of a life of rock music, from the 1950s to the present day.

David Bowie

David Bowie

Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers his life, music, art and movies, with a sweep of incredible photographs.