Krzesimir Debski
Encyclopedia
Krzesimir Dębski is a Polish
composer
, conductor and jazz
violinist. His music career as an musician has been that of a performer as well as composer of classical music, opera, television and feature films.
, Poland
. Following graduation, Dębski became interested in jazz. Since 1982, as the leader and violinist of the jazz group String Connection, he has performed in the United States, Canada and over 25 countries in Europe.
In 1986 Dębski has cut down on his concert performances and concentrated primarily on composition. He has composed more than 60 symphonic and chamber music pieces, including an opera, 2 symphonies, religious works and 9 instrumental concertos. Since 1986, he has composed the music for over 70 films, received 8 platinum albums and has composed music for the highest grossing movie in Polish film history, “With Fire and Sword
”.
As deputy chairman of the Polish Association of Contemporary Music, Dębski has written music for film, theater, symphony, chamber orchestra and experimental ensembles. As a composer, he won the Fryderyk Award (the Polish equivalent for the Grammy Award). He was also awarded The International Film Music Academy, coveted “Philip” prize presented to him by the legendary film composer, Ennio Morricone.
Krzesimir Dębski has conducted concerts in which the following international stars performed: Jose Carreras, Nigel Kennedy, Adam Makowicz, The Canadian Brass, Vadim Repin, Mark O’Connor, Jean-Luc Ponty, John Blake, Ewa Malas-Godlewska
and Jose Cura.
In 1986, Dębski received First Prize at the 25th Anniversary Spring Festival of Music, a composers' competition in Poland. In 1988, The Canadian Film Academy nominated Dębski for a Genie Award
. The same year, he received a special award for his musical work with children from the Prime Minister of Poland.
He has also made a brilliant career for himself as a jazzman. In 1985, he was ranked as one of the ten most distinguished jazz violinists in the world in the survey of the prestigious American magazine "Down Beat".
All the same, he has not abandoned classical music, the writing of which he still regards as his most important creative task. “I have worked in nearly all the fields of the music world,” he said in an interview for the “Studio” monthly in 1999; “rock men greet me as a rock musician, jazzmen - as a jazzman, still others - as a film composer. But I am personally convinced that classical music is my proper domain. I dedicate about 80 per cent of my time, or more in some periods, to the composition of contemporary classical music. Unfortunately, the world of contemporary music is so small that at times I cannot help having the impression that I could easily suffocate in it. And, for that matter, I do not seem to be fully accepted in that world. [...] ‘Oh, that’s him,’ they say, ‘he’s already been everywhere, done everything, does he really have to impose himself on us now?’ But I don’t complain - I have many performances. So far, I have refrained from releasing my music on record (though I could have done it at my own cost a long ago), but now I’d like to announce some releases with my compositions. The “Warsaw Autumn” has never presented my works, but I hope to be found worthy of this honour when I celebrate my 80th birthday... [...]. My pieces are performed every month, also frequently abroad. I feel happy that my works are played at usual philharmonic concerts, not only at festivals.”
(“Studio” 1999 no. 5)
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, conductor and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
violinist. His music career as an musician has been that of a performer as well as composer of classical music, opera, television and feature films.
Professional career
Krzesimir Dębski studied composition with Andrzej Koszewski, and conducting with Witold Krzemieński, at the Paderewski Academy of Music in PoznańPoznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Following graduation, Dębski became interested in jazz. Since 1982, as the leader and violinist of the jazz group String Connection, he has performed in the United States, Canada and over 25 countries in Europe.
In 1986 Dębski has cut down on his concert performances and concentrated primarily on composition. He has composed more than 60 symphonic and chamber music pieces, including an opera, 2 symphonies, religious works and 9 instrumental concertos. Since 1986, he has composed the music for over 70 films, received 8 platinum albums and has composed music for the highest grossing movie in Polish film history, “With Fire and Sword
With Fire and Sword
With Fire and Sword is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1884. It is the first volume of a series known to Poles as the Trilogy, followed by The Deluge and Fire in the Steppe , also translated as Colonel Wolodyjowski...
”.
As deputy chairman of the Polish Association of Contemporary Music, Dębski has written music for film, theater, symphony, chamber orchestra and experimental ensembles. As a composer, he won the Fryderyk Award (the Polish equivalent for the Grammy Award). He was also awarded The International Film Music Academy, coveted “Philip” prize presented to him by the legendary film composer, Ennio Morricone.
Krzesimir Dębski has conducted concerts in which the following international stars performed: Jose Carreras, Nigel Kennedy, Adam Makowicz, The Canadian Brass, Vadim Repin, Mark O’Connor, Jean-Luc Ponty, John Blake, Ewa Malas-Godlewska
Ewa Malas-Godlewska
Ewa Małas-Godlewska is a Polish Soprano, residing in France. Her voice is a Lyric coloratura soprano.Malas is an accomplished opera singer, graduated from the Wroclaw PWSM. Malas is noted for her unique interpretation of Baroque music.Of all her many appearances, the most obvious one is her...
and Jose Cura.
Awards
Krzesimir Dębski has been awarded numerous prizes for his jazz musicianship and composition work. The prizes include a.o.: First Prize at the World Competition of Jazz Ensembles (Belgium), and the Stanislaw Wyspiański Award from The Ministry of Culture (Warsaw, Poland). Readers of the monthly jazz magazine “Jazz Forum” have bestowed upon Dębski the honor of “Musician, Composer and Violinist Of The Year” from 1983 to 1986. “Down Beat” magazine rated Krzesimir Dębski among the top ten violinists in the world.In 1986, Dębski received First Prize at the 25th Anniversary Spring Festival of Music, a composers' competition in Poland. In 1988, The Canadian Film Academy nominated Dębski for a Genie Award
Genie Award
Genie Awards are given out to recognize the best of Canadian cinema by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. From 1949-1979, the awards were named the Canadian Film Awards...
. The same year, he received a special award for his musical work with children from the Prime Minister of Poland.
Works for orchestra
- Musica per archi (1985) - for string orchestra
- Passacaglia - improvisazioni (1990) – for symphony orchestra
- Synchromie - Dance Fantasy (1990) - for symphony orchestra
- Three Forms (1990) – for symphony orchestra
- Moment Musical (1992) – for symphony orchestra
- Toccata (1993) – for symphony orchestra
- Sinfonietta (1993) – for symphony orchestra
- Preludium - Interludium - Postludium (1995) – for string orchestra
- Zyklus (1996) – for symphony orchestra
- Tempi concertati (1996) – for string orchestra
- Musica Dominicana (2001) – for wind orchestra
- Autuminty (2007) – for symphony orchestra
Works for solo instruments with orchestra
- Fantasy (1978) – for organ and symphony orchestra
- Impromptu (1990) – for violin, cello, piano and symphony orchestra
- Solo, duo, trio e orchestra (1990) - for violin, cello, piano and symphony orchestra
- Concerto for violin no. 1 (1990) – for violin and symphony orchestra
- Concerto for piano [Chechnyan] (1991) – for piano and symphony orchestra
- Concerto for French horn (1995) – for French horn and symphony orchestra
- Concerto per flauto dolce nr 1 (1997) – for flute and string orchestra
- Concerto for clarinet (1998) – for clarinet and string orchestra
- Concerto for flauto no. 2 (1998) – for flute and symphony orchestra
- Concerto for violin no. 2 (1998) – for violin and symphony orchestra
- Double concerto (1999) – for violin, viola and symphony orchestra
- Notturno (2000) – for violin, viola and symphony orchestra
- Landscape (2000) – for clarinet and symphony orchestra
- Quasi una fantasia (2000) – for violin and string orchestra
- Sounds from Serengeti (2002) – for strings, oboe and string orchestra
- Concerto for cello (2004) – for cello and symphony orchestra
- Solemn Concerto (2005) – for trompet, organ and string orchestra
- Q + O (2005) – for quartett and symphony orchestra
Vocal works
- Oratorium Pie Jesu Domine (1988) – for soprano, tenor, mixed choir and symphony orchestra
- Missa puerorum (1988) – for boys choir, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, organ, percussion and string orchestra
- Missa brevis (1998) - for boys choir, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and organ
- Psalmodia Paratum cor meum Deus (1989) – for mixed choir a cappella
- Laudate Dominum (1990) – for female choir, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and organ
- Biografioły [to the poetry of Stanisław Barańczak](1993) – for 6 male voices
- 7 Songs [to the poetry of Wisława Szymborska] (1997) – for soprano, tenor, female choir and symphony orchestra
- Misterium (2000) – for soprano, recitations, mixed choir and orchestra
- I Symfonia Nihil homine mirabilius (2002) – for mezzo-soprano, mixed choir and symphony orchestra
- II Symfonia Ver redit (2003) – for soprano, improviser, mixed choir and symphony orchestra
- Forms (2006) – for voices, mixed choir and symphony orchestra
- Psalm nr 1 [to the poetry of Czesław Miłosz] (2007) – for mixed choir and symphony orchestra
- 3 songs Lux Aeterna (2007) – for mixed choir a cappella
- Cosmopolis (2008) - for mixed choir and symphony orchestra
Recordings (selection)
- 1984 - TRIO (with String Connection)
- 1986 - String Connection Live in Warsaw
- 1991 - Montreal Ballad (Debski and Vasvari Group)
- 1995 - The Choir
- 1995 - Total Eclipse
- 1996 - Blow Up (with pianist Rolf Zielke)
- 1998 - Witaj Gwiazdo Zlota
- 1999 - Ogniem i Mieczem - Platinum in Poland for over 200.000 sold copies
- 2000 - Fuego
- 2000 - Era of Love
- 2002 - The Flute Concerto and The Two Stradivarius Concerto
- 2004 - Symphony Nihil Homine Mirabilius
Film scores (selection)
- 1987 - The little magician - Director: Waldemar Dziki
- 1988 - King Size - Director: Juliusz MachulskiJuliusz MachulskiJuliusz Machulski is a Polish film director and screenplay writer. Son of noted actor Jan Machulski, Juliusz became notable for his comedies ridiculing the life in communist-ruled Poland of 1970s and 1980s....
- 1991 - V.I.P. - Director: Juliusz Machulski
- 1993 - Szwadron - Director: Juliusz Machulski
- 1996 - Matka swojej matki - Director: Robert Gliński
- 1997 - Autoportret z kochanką - Director: Radosław Piwowarski
- 1998 - Ciemna strona Wenus - Director: Radosław Piwowarski
- 1999 - With fire and sword - Director: Jerzy HoffmanJerzy HoffmanJerzy Hoffman is a Polish film director and screenwriter. He is the father of early Macintosh development team member Joanna Hoffman.-Selected filmography:*Battle of Warsaw 1920...
- 2001 - W pustyni i w puszczy - Director: Gavin HoodGavin HoodGavin Hood is a South African filmmaker, screenwriter, producer and actor, best known for writing and directing the Academy Award-winning Foreign Language Film Tsotsi...
- 2002 - Tam i z powrotem - Director: Wojciech Wójcik
- 2003 - An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God - Director: Jerzy HoffmanJerzy HoffmanJerzy Hoffman is a Polish film director and screenwriter. He is the father of early Macintosh development team member Joanna Hoffman.-Selected filmography:*Battle of Warsaw 1920...
- 2009 - Było sobie miasteczko...Było sobie miasteczko...Było sobie miasteczko... is a 2009 Polish historical documentary film about the 1943 Kisielin massacre in the village of Kisielin , located in the Wołyń Voivodeship in Poland before World War II,...
(There once was a town...) directed by Tadeusz Arciuch and Maciej Wojciechowski - 2011 - Battle of Warsaw 1920 - Director: Jerzy HoffmanJerzy HoffmanJerzy Hoffman is a Polish film director and screenwriter. He is the father of early Macintosh development team member Joanna Hoffman.-Selected filmography:*Battle of Warsaw 1920...
Krzesimir Dębski in the press
As a much film composer he is much sought after and for most music lovers his name is associated with that area of activity. He has recently written music for screen versions of many masterpieces of Polish literature; he also composes for Hollywood.He has also made a brilliant career for himself as a jazzman. In 1985, he was ranked as one of the ten most distinguished jazz violinists in the world in the survey of the prestigious American magazine "Down Beat".
All the same, he has not abandoned classical music, the writing of which he still regards as his most important creative task. “I have worked in nearly all the fields of the music world,” he said in an interview for the “Studio” monthly in 1999; “rock men greet me as a rock musician, jazzmen - as a jazzman, still others - as a film composer. But I am personally convinced that classical music is my proper domain. I dedicate about 80 per cent of my time, or more in some periods, to the composition of contemporary classical music. Unfortunately, the world of contemporary music is so small that at times I cannot help having the impression that I could easily suffocate in it. And, for that matter, I do not seem to be fully accepted in that world. [...] ‘Oh, that’s him,’ they say, ‘he’s already been everywhere, done everything, does he really have to impose himself on us now?’ But I don’t complain - I have many performances. So far, I have refrained from releasing my music on record (though I could have done it at my own cost a long ago), but now I’d like to announce some releases with my compositions. The “Warsaw Autumn” has never presented my works, but I hope to be found worthy of this honour when I celebrate my 80th birthday... [...]. My pieces are performed every month, also frequently abroad. I feel happy that my works are played at usual philharmonic concerts, not only at festivals.”
(“Studio” 1999 no. 5)