The International Festival of Kraków Composers (formerly known as the “Days of Music by Kraków Composers”) has been present among the cultural events in Kraków since 1989. The main purpose of the Festival is the promotion and presentation of contemporary, professional work by Kraków composers—from legendary composers and professors, through the outstanding middle generation, to the youngest generation and students of composition—and was created in relation to the musical tradition of Poland’s immediate neighbors, countries of the European Union, and music of the world. This Festival concept is realized through the organization of concerts and meetings with composers, as well as special lectures conducted, among others, by the music theorists of the Academy of Music in Kraków and musicologists from Jagiellonian University. Composer Marcel Chyrzyński has served as the General and Artistic Director of the Festival since 2014, after succeeding the 20 year term of former Director Jerzy Stankiewicz.
This year’s Festival is held in various prestigious music venues around Kraków from 14-22 April 2018. One of the highlights of each year’s Festival edition is the multitude of world premieres that occur during the week, and this year’s list of premieres is as follows:
- 14 April, “Opening Concert”: Franciszek Araszkiewicz – Innerealization for chamber orchestra and electronics governed by brainwaves and electromagnetic fields (2018) and Jarosław Płonka – Stalker for chamber orchestra (2018 – commissioned by 30th IFKC) *. Performed by Orkiestra Muzyki Nowej
- 15 April, “Krakow Composers’ School (1)”: Franciszek Araszkiewicz – Stochastic! for voice and electronics (2018). Performed by the Sopra(n)cello duo
- 16 April, “Poland – Germany”: Samuel Tramin – to co zostało okryte/was verhüllt war for soprano and string quartet (2017) to the words by Tadeusz Różewicz; Wojciech Widłak – Conductus for string quartet (2018); and Jacek Domagała – Psalm for soprano and string quartet (2017) to the words by Urszula Kozioł. Performed by Kwartet Śląski and Anna Korondi – soprano
- 17 April, “Concert of Premieres (1)”: Maciej Jabłoński – V2 for flute, clarinet, pianoviolin and cello (2012). Performed by Martyna Klupś-Radny – flute, Barbara Borowicz – clarinet, Jarosław Sroka – bass clarinet, Piotr Tarcholik – violin, Jan Kalinowski – cello, and Marek Szlezer – piano
- 18 April, “Concert of Premieres (2)”: Orestis Papaioannou – Quintet in Five Scenes for flute, clarinet, violin, viola and cello (2018) **. Performed by the Quasars Ensemble (Slovakia)
- 19 April, 45th Anniversary of the Electroacoustic Music Studio of the Academy Of Music In Krakow – “Koktajl Elektroniczny”: Paweł Malinowski – C’mon join to joyride for 3 performers, cassette tape recorders and video (2018); Monika Szpyrka – zero waste tip 2: don’t waste the tips for polychannel sound projection and video (2018); Julian Gołosz – Church Music #2 for keyboard instruments and electronics (2018); Wiaczesław Kyryłow – hold on for basset horn, cello, live electronics and sampler (2018); Julia Janiak – Etiuda for voice and electronics (2018); Dominika Peszko/Marcin Strzelecki/Katarina Gryvul – Pomp-on for electronics and instruments (2018); Kateryna Gryvul – Damal for electronics (2018); and GrupLab Plejrek – 125 for voices, instruments, objects and electronics (2018). Performed by the GRUPLAB Ensemble and other guests
- 20 April, “Concert of Scientific Circle Student Composition of the Music Academy In Krakow”: Karol Osman – Szeptem w purpurze for amplified ensemble (2017); Wiaczesław Kyryłow – Traum for voice, live electronics and sampler (2018); Kaja Szwarnóg – Fraktal 1 for flute, clarinet, piano and percussion (2018); Paweł Siek – Lignes d’hauntologie/1949? for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2017); Janusz Krzysztof Korczak – Vademecum I for flute, bass clarinet, percussion and cello (2018); Michał Lazar – Wyrwy z zamyśleń for bassoon and vibraphone (2018)
- 21 April, “Concert of Premieres (3)”: Jakub Królikowski – Mit o Hermafrodycie for flute, viola and harp (2018) ***; Michael Gatonska – Today the Medicine Man read to me the pale earth book about the darkening of days for flute, viola, prepared harp and microphones (2018); Yoori Kim – The Joke for flute, viola and harp (2018); Grzegorz Majka – Tarasy for flute, viola and harp (2018); Michał Pawełek – Laghu for flute, viola and harp (2018); Philip Czapłowski – Emergence for flute, viola and harp (2018). Performed by the Lorien Trio
- 22 April, “Closing Concert”: Hyewon Lee – Voice for female voice and piano (2018); Eunsil Kwon –Hoesang for gayageum and violin (2018); Leszek Wojtal – Depth of Field for violin and piano (2018); Magdalena Długosz – Capriccio movente for solo instrument and computer electroacoustic layer (2018); Jeongyeon Lee – Tick tock, tick tock: A Master of Time II for haegeum and 12-string gayageum (2018); David F. Rafferty – Alpha for violin, piano and electronics (2018); Dohun Lee Nakhwa – a falling flower for female voice, haegeum, gayageum, violin and piano (2018). Performed by Modern Ensemble (South Korea) and guests
* World premiere. Financial support provided by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as a part of “Collections” program – “Composing Commissions” (IMiT)
** World premiere. Main Award in the 1st Krzysztof Penderecki International Competition for Young Composers
*** World premiere. 1st Prize in the 3rd Marek Stachowski Competition for Young Composers
14-22 April 2018
2018 International Festival of Kraków Composers
Various venues around Kraków
Admission is free
Info: festiwal.zkp.krakow.pl
[Source: festiwal.zkp.krakow.pl]