Wojciech Kilar
PolandBiography of Wojciech Kilar
Wojciech Kilar was a Polish composer known for his classical music compositions as well as his film scores. He is considered one of the greatest Polish composers of our time.
Early Life and Education
Wojciech Kilar was born on July 17, 1932, in Lviv, which was then part of Poland (now Ukraine). His father was a gynecologist and his mother was a theater actress. Kilar spent most of his life in Katowice, a city in southern Poland, where he has been living since 1948.
Kilar studied at the State Higher School of Music in Katowice, under the guidance of renowned pianist, composer, and educator Władysława Markiewiczówna. He graduated with honors in 1955. He also studied at the State Higher School of Music in Kraków from 1955 to 1958, under the tutelage of pianist and composer Bolesław Woytowicz. During this time, he also participated in the International New Music Summer Course in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1957.
In 1959-1960, Kilar received a scholarship from the French government to study in Paris with the famous French pedagogue, composer, and conductor Nadia Boulanger.
Music Career
In the 1960s, Kilar was part of the Polish avant-garde musical movement, along with Krzysztof Penderecki and Henryk Górecki. He composed music for numerous Polish films, working with notable directors such as Krzysztof Kieślowski, Krzysztof Zanussi, Kazimierz Kutz, and Andrzej Wajda. He also composed music for several French and European films.
Kilar's first English-language film score was for Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula." He also composed the scores for Roman Polanski's "Death and the Maiden," "The Ninth Gate," "The Portrait of a Lady," and "The Pianist."
Aside from his work in film, Kilar continued to compose classical pieces, including compositions for wind quintet, chamber orchestra, and choir. Some of his notable works include "Baltic Canticles" and the "September Symphony," completed in 2003. His epic composition "Exodus," featured in the film "Schindler's List," and his Piano Concerto dedicated to Peter Jablonski received critical acclaim.
Awards and Recognition
Kilar was the recipient of numerous Polish and international awards, including prestigious European and British film awards. His music was characterized by deep romantic themes, the striking sound of double basses and cellos, and strict, concise harmonies.
In 1991, director Krzysztof Zanussi made a biographical film about Kilar entitled "Wojciech Kilar."
