March 31st

Thomas Pitts Europe, Music, Poland March, Polonaise de concert No. 1 in D major, Wieniawski

Henryk Wieniawski 10 July 1835 – 31 March 1880

Polonaise de concert No. 1 in D major Op. 4

Henryk Wieniawski
By Fritz Luckhardt – This image is part of the Portrait Collection Friedrich Nicolas Manskopf at the library of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main.ID: {{{1}}}This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3275787

Henryk Wieniawski was a Polish violinist and composer, regarded as one of the greatest violin virtuosos of the 19th century. Born in Lublin, he displayed prodigious talent from a young age, entering the Paris Conservatoire at just eight years old. His exceptional technique and expressive playing quickly gained him recognition, and he embarked on a successful career as a soloist and composer.

Wieniawski’s compositions, particularly his violin works, remain staples of the repertoire. His two violin concertos showcase both technical brilliance and deep lyricism: the Violin Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor (1853) is known for its difficulty, while the Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor (1862) is favoured for its expressive qualities. Other notable works include Légende, Scherzo-Tarantelle, and Polonaise Brillante No. 1, all of which highlight his virtuosity and Romantic sensibilities.

Alongside composing, Wieniawski was a dedicated teacher. His influence on violin playing extended beyond his music, as he contributed to bowing techniques and performance styles still studied today.

Despite his success, Wieniawski’s health deteriorated in his later years, forcing him to cut short his performances. He died in Moscow in 1880 at the age of 44.

5 February

February 5th

Thomas Pitts Europe, Music, Poland Bacewicz, February

Grażyna Bacewicz 5 February 1909 – 17 January 1969

Concerto for String Orchestra

Grażyna Bacewicz
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=513557

Grażyna Bacewicz Biernacka was a Polish composer and violinist. She was one of the most important female composers in Poland, following Maria Szymanowska.

Grażyna was born in Łódź, Poland. Her father taught her to play the piano and violin. She studied music at the Warsaw Conservatory, where she learned violin, piano, and composition. Later, she continued her studies in Paris, learning from famous teachers like Nadia Boulanger and Carl Flesch.

After finishing her studies, Grażyna performed as a violinist and composed music. From 1936 to 1938, she was the lead violinist in the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. During World War II, she stayed in Warsaw and performed in secret concerts. After the war, she became a professor at the State Conservatoire of Music in Łódź. In 1954, after a serious car accident, she focused only on composing music.

Grażyna got married in 1936 and had a daughter named Alina in 1942. She passed away in 1969 due to a heart attack.

Grażyna wrote many pieces, especially for the violin. Her works include:

Violin music: Seven violin concertos, five sonatas, and a Quartet for four violins.
Orchestral music: Four symphonies and a Symphony for Strings.
Piano music: Preludes, sonatas, and concert etudes.
Chamber music: String quartets, piano quintets, and sonatas for different instruments.
Concertos: Violin, viola, cello, and piano concertos.
Choral and vocal music: Songs and cantatas for voice and orchestra.
Ballet: “Peasant King” ballet in 1953.

Grażyna Bacewicz was a pioneer for female composers and an important figure in Polish music. Her compositions are still performed today, inspiring musicians around the world.