A sizeable collection of scores by Polish contemporary composers was recently donated to us by Katherine Quittner, a film music composer, orchestrator, music editor and music supervisor on dozens of big Hollywood films since the mid-1980s. Some of the titles Ms. Quittner worked on included Father of the Bride, A River Runs Through It, Dracula,…Continue Reading The Quittner Collection Donation
About two weeks ago we received a FedEx notice that several large parcels, weighing a total of over 120 lbs., were on their way to the PMC. As the delivery date neared, our excitement rose about the contents of this huge shipment. When it finally arrived at the PMC and we opened it, the delight…Continue Reading Mega-Donation from PWM to PMC
By Marek Zebrowski Long dedicated to the promotion of lesser-known composers and repertoire from Central Europe, EDA Records just came out with a terrific new offering—a two-CD set of songs by Szymon Laks (1901-1983). This recording is a truly remarkable achievement for many reasons, especially because Laks is remembered these days mainly for only one…Continue Reading Laks—Viva Voce
By Marek Zebrowski Another batch of gifts from this summer’s travel to Poland includes a fascinating two-CD set of music by Polish composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A project coordinated by the Polish Chamber Musicians’ Association [Stowarzyszenie Polskich Muzyków Kameralistów, or SPMK], this recording features rarely heard piano trios by Władysław…Continue Reading Three Unusual Additions to the PMC Sound Library
By Marek Zebrowski For several years now, during every single visit in Warsaw, I have been always invited to top-level meetings at the Head Office of Poland’s State Archives (NDAP). This June was no exception and, once again, I was warmly welcomed by the Archives’ director, Dr. Paweł Pietrzyk in his elegant office in a…Continue Reading State Archives and PMC Update
By Marek Zebrowski Another visit in Poland earlier this summer brought about a veritable shower of gifts donated to us by friends and supporters of the Polish Music Center. Each of them is incredibly valuable and important to us and each will greatly enrich our library holdings. As soon as all of these items are…Continue Reading Marta Ptaszyńska in Residence
With great sadness, we note passing of one of Polish Music Center’s friends and supporters, Dr. Teodor Polak. After a long illness, he died in his sleep in Los Angeles on 8 June 2021 at the age of 92. Born near Warsaw on November 9, 1928, already as a teenage patriot he joined the Polish…Continue Reading Dr. Teodor Polak In Memoriam
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 Paderewski Lecture was conducted as an interview via Zoom on 22 August 2020, and broadcast to the worldwide public via USC ThorntonLIVE on 10 October 2020. The interview, transcribed below, features composer Krzysztof Meyer (KM) and his wife, musicologist Danuta Gwizdalanka (DG), in conversation with PMC director Marek…Continue Reading 2020 Paderewski Lecture with Krzysztof Meyer: Lecture Transcript
The Stojowski Collection Expanded! In late March, quite unexpectedly, we received an email from Professor Frank Martignetti, chair of the Department of Music and Performing Arts at the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He shared with us some truly stunning news about the materials that once belonged to Zygmunt Stojowski (1870-1946) and were stored at the University…Continue Reading PMC GIFTS April & May 2021
POLMIC’s Easter Surprise Together with the director Mieczysław Kominek, our friends at the Polish Music Information Centre in Warsaw (POLMIC) once again came through for us with a most thoughtful and timely gift. For many years already, we have been on the receiving end of POLMIC’s largesse and have happily accepted sets of unique recordings…Continue Reading PMC GIFTS: Feb-March 2021