Henryk Mikołaj Górecki died today

[IndigoBandit]

Great composer. I'll never forget the first time I heard the Dawn Upshaw/Kent Nagano recording of Symphony number 3, reading the liner notes and bawling pathetically! Amazingly moving music. He'll definitely be missed.

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by IndigoBandit

Great composer. I'll never forget the first time I heard the Dawn Upshaw/Kent Nagano recording of Symphony number 3, reading the liner notes and bawling pathetically! Amazingly moving music. He'll definitely be missed.

Indeed. I had a similar experience, as he was part of a documentary on PBS in the States. It was about him, his music, and the "Final Solution". His writing was truly divinely inspired.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Empiria

It is sad to say that the great composer has died in a hospital in Katowice, Poland. Just two days ago Krzysztof Penderecki visited him. He promised to lead Gorecki's 'Beatus vir'. He was almost 77. He lived in a little village of Zab with a wonderful view on the Tarta Mountains in the south. I love to hike there. Thanks God for his live and music.

That's very sad - I met him in London once at the Classic Music Awards.

77 is very young nowadays.

But the Tatra mountains (I assume you meant Tatra and not Tarta) are one of my favourite places, though I normally visit the southern slopes.

[Empiria]

Originally Posted by John Willett

But the Tatra mountains (I assume you meant Tatra and not Tarta) are one of my favourite places, though I normally visit the southern slopes.

That is nice to hear, John. The northern part is impressive, too. Would be glad to meet you there one day.

I made the Tatra correct. Thanks!

[piotr]

Tremendous loss. Very sad news indeed.
But we did receive the amazing gift of his music, and for that I am grateful.
p.

[otobianki74]

r.i.p.

when I was working at nonesuch records in the early 90's I remember being told that the only albums from their roster of artists at the time that went platinum were of course the gypsy kings (which they distributed) and górecki's symphony no. 3. I thought that was amazing.

oto

[piotr]

Originally Posted by otobianki74

r.i.p.

when I was working at nonesuch records in the early 90's I remember being told that the only albums from their roster of artists at the time that went platinum were of course the gypsy kings (which they distributed) and górecki's symphony no. 3. I thought that was amazing.

oto

That is interesting.
Partly, because his music feels so deeply intimate. Very privet, inner kind of experience. And as such, I never thought of it as a "commercial success"...
Of course it does make sense that it would be, perhaps precisely because of that sense of intimacy and earnestness.
p.

[Plush]

A sad day for Polish music and for great music everywhere. Blessings on his memory.


Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

[Schaap]

Sad news. A great versatile Polish composer with powerful and moving compositions.
RIP

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Empiria

That is nice to hear, John. The northern part is impressive, too. Would be glad to meet you there one day.

I made the Tatra correct. Thanks!

Would be nice - I presume you mean in the Zakopane area?

My wife is Slovak and I get down that way two or three times a year if I can (hopefully next time at Christmas).

[ray_subsonic]

I hope he passed away peacefully.

We have lost one of our most important composers. I'm wishing he had published or released more of his composition during his lifetime. Maybe more of his work will be unearthed, although what he left us with is still remarkable. He is one of the few composers in this day and age, who has spoken clearly through his music.

Symphony No. 3 is one of the most moving pieces of music I have ever heard. The recording with Dawn Upshaw truly does him justice. It is like a bright searing light in the darkness of Winter.

Originally Posted by piotr

We did receive the amazing gift of his music, and for that I am grateful.

True.