REQUIEM FOR MY FRIEND

Elzbieta Towarnicka, soprano
Dariusz Paradowski, countertenor
Piotr Lykowski, countertenor
Piotr Kusziewicz, tenor
Grzegorz Zychwicz, bass
Mariusz Kolluch, tenor ([1] and [5])
Marek Mos, violin I
Arkadiusz Kubica, violin II
Lukasz Syrnicki, viola
Piotr Janosik, cello
Boguslaw Pstras, double bass
Jan Szypowski, organ
Jan Plich, percussion
conductor: Roman Rewakowicz
recording: Warsaw Cathedral and Emaus Church Crakow,
december 1997

Life:

Elzbieta Towarnicka, soprano
Piotr Lykowski, countertenor
Dorata Slezak, voice
Jacek Ostaszewski, recorder
Leszek Mozdzer, piano
Jerzy Glówczewski, alto saxophone
Sinfonia Varsovia Warszawski Chór Kameralny
conductor: Ryszard Zimak

Part One: Requiem

1. Officium (3:46)
2. Kyrie Eleison (6:12)
3. Dies Irae (4:51)
4. Offertorium (3:19)
5. Sanctus (2:51)
6. Angus Dei (1:49)
7. Lux Aeterna (1:56)
8. Lacrimosa (3:24)
9. Epitaphium (3:03)

Part Two: Life

The Beginning:

10. Meeting (5:18)
11. Discovering the World (2:50)
12. Love (2:24)

Destiny:

13. Kai Kairos (9:43)

Apocalypse:

14. Ascende Huc (2:18)
15. Veni et Vidi (2:45)
16. Qui Erat et Qui Est (4:26)
17. Lacrimosa - Day of Tears (4:03)

Postscriptum:

18. Prayer (3:16)

World Premiere: Grand Theatre; Warsaw, Poland; 1 October 1998 Sinfonia Varsovia, Jacek Kaspszyk, conductor; Elzbieta Towarnicka, soprano; Varsov Chamber Choir

Part I: soprano, 2 countertenors, tenor, bass; 2vn, va, vc, db; organ; percussion

Part II: soprano, countertenor; SATB chorus; recorder, alto saxophone, piano; 1+pic.1+ca.2(Ebcl)+bcl.1/4220/perc/str(10.10.8.6.6) Duration: 68'


Composer Note:

Once, we had a joint conception to create a concert telling a life story. The premiere was planned to take place on the Acropolis in Athens. It was intended to be a large event, a hybrid of a mystery play and an opera. Krzysztof Kieslowski would be the director, Krzysztof Piesiewicz was responsible for the script, and I was planning to compose the music.

We thought it might be the first of a series of musical performances, to be developed in various interesting places around the world in the next few years. But it was life that authored a different ending: Krzysztof Kieslowski died in March of 1996.

The first part of Requiem for My Friend is meant as a farewell to Krzysztof Kieslowski.

I dedicate this music to him.