News
Prof. Jan Ekier Passed Away
2014-08-16
Prof. Jan Ekier, the most prominent expert on the works of Fryderyk Chopin, a brilliant pianist, composer and educator, an unprecedented model for many generations of musicologists, a friend of Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne, passed away on 15 August.
He was a pianist, composer, pedagogue and musicologist. Through many years, he co-created a programme line for Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne, and more than half a century ago began work on the National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin, which he completed in 2010.
Professor Jan Ekier was a member of the Programme Commitee of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute - his staff said goodbye to him saying, "His departure closes the most important chapter of chopinology, orphaning us all."
Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne subscribes to these words. PWM Editor-in-chief Dr. Daniel Cichy said, "When we get to know his biography it is not difficult to immediately see that the Professor was an exceptional man. His fate is entwined with the lives of the most prominent figures in culture, he had contact with the greatest artists of several generations, for whom he was an unparalleled authority. Despite his numerous and great services – he remained an extremely modest person. Yet his name is spoken in all the possible languages of the world. I'm sure that the Professor's life opus – the edition of all the works of our greatest composer - will not allow us to forget him."
In the introduction to Aneta Teichman's book, "Jan Ekier", released last year to commemorate the Professor's 100th birthday Mieczysław Tomaszewski wrote:
"Everyone who had the good fortune to run into Jan Ekier on their path carries in themself an awareness that they had a meeting with a wonderful and unusual personality. Awareness of meeting with this character - in one person - a pianist and composer, pedagogue and editor, but above all, an artist and a man, admiration for whom is based upon the conformity between his principles and actions, beliefs and achievements, as the supreme truth of his creative life."
“At the core of Ekier's activities,” Aneta Teichman added, “is faith: first, he believed in himself, in his abilities and capabilities, which is why he so steadfastly developed his talent. Later he believed in the sense of his own actions, and this strong belief allowed him to never give up, to walk away with his head bowed. "
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