Malawski, Artur

Malawski, Artur, Polish violinist, conductor, teacher, and composer; b. Przemysl, July 4, 1904; d. Krakow, Dec. 26, 1957. He was a student of Chmielewski (violin) at the Krakow Cons, (graduated, 1928), where he then taught violin and theory (1928–36). After further training with Sikorski (composition) and Bierdiajew (conducting) at the Warsaw Cons. (1936–39), he taught conducting and composition at the Krakow Cons. (1945–57) and conducting at the Katowice Cons. (1950–54). He pursued a progressive path as a composer from 1945, but in his last years he adopted a more Romantic style.

Works

dramatic: Wierchy (The Peaks), ballet- pantomime (c. 1942; rev. 1950–52; concert perf., Krakow, Jan. 10, 1952); incidental music. orch.:Allegro capriccioso for Small Orch. (1929); Sinfonietta (1935); Fuga w starym stylu (Fugue in the Old Style; 1936); Variations (1937); 2 syms.: No. 1 (1938–43) and No. 2, Dramatyczna (1953–56); Fantazja ukrainska (1941); (6) Etiudy symfoniczne for Piano and Orch. (1947; Sopot, April 30, 1948); Toccata for Small Orch. (1947); Overture (1948–49); Toccata and Fugue in Variation Form for Piano and Orch. (1949); Tryptyk góralski (Mountaineer Triptych) for Small Orch. (1950; also for Piano); Suite popularna (1952); Hungaria 1956 (1957; Warsaw, Feb. 14, 1958). chamber: 2 string quartets (1926, destroyed; 1941–43); Sextet for 2 Violins, 2 Violas, and 2 Cellos (1932; destroyed); Zywioly Tatr (Elements of the Tatra) for Wind Quintet (1934; partly destroyed); Burleska for Violin and Piano (1940); Sonata na tematy F. Janiewicza for Violin and Piano (1951); Piano Trio (1951–53); Siciliana i rondo na tematy F. Janiewicza for Violin and Piano (1952); piano pieces. vocal:Wyspa gorgon (Gorgon’s Island), cantata for Soprano, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1939); Stara basn (Old Tale), cantata (n.d.); songs.

Bibliography

B. Schaffer, ed., A. M.: Zycie i twórczosc (Krakow, 1969).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire