b. 1914, Dąbrowa Górnicza – d. 1965, Paris
Biography
Michał Spisak was born on 14 September, 1914 at Dąbrowa Górnicza and died on 29 January, 1965 in Paris. He studied at the Katowice Conservatory, where in 1937 he received a diploma with honors in a violin and composition. He continued his studies in composition under Kazimierz Sikorski in Warsaw (1935-37). In 1937 he went to Paris, where he studied with Nadia Boulanger; he remained in France until his death, while maintaining constant contact with his native country. In 1937 he became vice-president of the Association of Young Polish Musicians in Paris. In Poland he had appeared as a violinist, but from 1937 he gave his attention exclusively to composition. His compositions have been performed in the whole world.
Michał Spisak is the holder of numerous prizes and distinctions: twice the Lili Boulanger Prize (1945, 1946); Premier Grand Prix at the Queen Elizabeth of Belgium International Composers Competition for Serenade for orchestra (Brussels, 1953) and Premier Grand Prix at the same competition for Concerto giocoso for chamber orchestra (1957); Grand Prix at the International Competition for the Official Olympic Anthem (Monaco, 1955); Premier Prix at the Henryk Wieniawski International Composers Competition for Improvisazione for violin and piano (Poznań, 1962). In 1964 the Union of Polish Composers in Warsaw awarded Michał Spisak their annual prize for his whole creative output.
List of Works
Orchestral Works
Serenade – 1939
Aubade for small orchestra – 1943
Suite for string orchestra – 1945
Toccata – 1947
Symphony Concertante No. 1 – 1947
Divertissement (Musique legere no. 1) – 1950
Ballet “Melos” – 1951
Symphony Concertante No. 2 – 1956
Concerto Giocoso for chamber orchestra – 1957
Allegro de Voiron – 1957 (after work of 1943)
Works for Solo Instruments and Orchestra
Clarinet Concertino – 1940-41
Bassoon Concerto – 1944
Piano Concerto – 1947
Divertimento for 2 pianos and orchestra – 1950
Sonata for violin and orchestra – 1950
Trombone Concertino – 1951
Andante et Allegro for violin and string orchestra – 1954
Chamber Music
Quartet for oboe, 2 clarinets, and bassoon – 1938
Concerto for 2 pianos – 1942
Sonatine for oboe, clarinet and bassoon – 1947
Sonate for violin and piano – 1946
Wind Quintet – 1948
Duetto Concertante for viola and bassoon – 1949
Musique Legere No. 2 for 2 violins, cello, double bass and piano – 1951
Three Preludes for soprano and flute – 1953
String Quartet No. 1 – 1953
Suite for 2 violins – 1958
Suite for 2 violas – 1959
Works for Solo Instruments and Piano
Two Caprices for violin and piano – 1937
Concertino for clarinet and piano – 1940-41
Humoresque for piano – 1943
Suite for piano – 1943
Concerto for bassoon and piano – 1944
Sonata for violin and orchestra (reduction for violin and piano) – 1950
Concertino for trombone and piano – 1951
Andante et Allegro for violin and piano – 1954
Improvisazione for violin and piano – 1962
Works for Unaccompanied Choir or Choir and Orchestra
Two Psalms for mixed choir and orchestra – 1938
Anthem for mixed choir and orchestra – 1947
Christmas Mass for unaccompanied choir – 1953
Olimpic Anthem (Pindar) for mixed choir and orchestra – 1955
Pedrek Wyrzutek, cantata for boy’s soprano, bass, reciter and boys’ and men’s choir – 1962
Didactic Works
Five Studies for string orchestra – 1948
Studies for violin ensembles – 1949-50
Manuscripts at USC
None
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