Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego

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Composers

Krzysztof Knittel

*1947

Knittel, Krzysztof (b. May 1, 1947, Warsaw). Polish composer of symphonic, chamber, stage and electroacoustic works that have been performed in most European countries, Asia, North and South Americas. Apart from works for acoustic instruments Knittel has also composed computer music, taken part in art performances, built sound installations and played in improvised music groups.

Mr. Knittel studied sound engineering and composition with Tadeusz Baird, Andrzej Dobrowolski, Wlodzimierz Kotonski at the Frederic Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw (1965-74). He also studied computer music with Lejaren Hiller and programming at the Mathematical Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (1973-74). He attended Summer Courses of New Music in Darmstadt in 1974 and 76.

He has worked at the Experimental Studio of Polish Radio since 1973 and at the Center for the Creative and Performing Arts at SUNY Buffalo in 1978.

Among his honors are the Solidarity Award in Music (1985, for String Quartet 84-85), Norwid Price in Music (2003, for Norwid Songs), Polish Composers' Union Prize (2003). He was also awarded by the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts in New York (1998). Concerts dedicated exclusively to his music were held in Barcelona, Budapest, Cracow, Kromeriz, Leipzig, Moscow, Sao Paulo, and Warsaw. His compositions were written for the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, National Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio, “Amadeus” Chamber Orchestra of the Polish Radio, Orchestra Sinfonia Varsovia, Choir Camerata Silesia, for soloists – Elisabeth Chojnacka, Olga Pasichnyk (Critics’ Prize at the Warsaw Autumn Festival for her performance in “The Heartpiece – Double Opera” composed together with John King), Janusz Olejniczak, Tomasz Stanko and many others.

Mr. Knittel co-founded the KEW Composers Group (1973-75, with Wojciech Michniewski and Elisabeth Sikora), “Cytula Tyfun da Bamba Orchester” (1981), the Independent Electroacoustic Music Studio (1982-84), ensemble “Light from Poland” (1985-87), interdisciplinary group “Freight Train” (existing since 1986 till today), CH&K Studio (since 1989, with Marek Choloniewski), the European Improvisation Orchestra (1996-98), CH&K&K (since 1999, with Marek Choloniewski and Wlodzimierz Kiniorski).

As a music critic and writer, he contributed to the Tygodnik Literacki (1990-91) and freelanced for Polish Television music department (1992-94). He has given lectures on new music in many European countries and in Americas.

He served as vice-chairman of the Polish section of ISCM (1989-92), director of the International Festival of Contemporary Music "Warsaw Autumn" (1995-98), vice-president (1995-99) and president (1999-2003) of the Polish Composers' Union, vice-president of the Polish Music Council (since 2000).

Since 2001 Mr. Knittel has taught at the Academy of Music in Lodz. Since 2003 he has been a member of the Programming Board of Zacheta National Gallery and a member of Supervisory Board of Telewizja Polska (Polish public television). Since 2004 - vice-chairman of Supervisory Board.

A full list of Knittel's works is available from a web-site of the Polish Music Information Center