Authors
Sławomir Kupczak
Composer, violinist and educator. He studied composition with Jan Wichrowski and computer music production with Cezary Duchnowski at Wrocław’s Academy of Music. He then completed postgraduate studies with Stanisław Krupowicz and Cezary Duchnowski. He attended international courses for young composers, and received scholarships from the ‘Friends of the Warsaw Autumn’ Foundation and Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung.
Kupczak played in Robert Kurdybacha’s Techn-No Orkiestra and the Wrocław ZAR Theatre. With Cezary Duchnowski and Paweł Hendrich he performs in the live electronics trio Phonos ek Mechanes. In 2006 his Anaphora No. 5 for cello and computer won the 4th prize in the 53rd International Rostrum of Composers in Paris, and his Lament for female voice, cello, piano and tape – the 2nd prize in the Tadeusz Baird Young Composers’ Competition in Warsaw. In 2019 his Halny (Foehn Wind) for electronics and improvising flutist was recommended at the 66th International Rostrum of Composers in Argentina. Kupczak’s works have been commissioned by festivals and music institutions, as well as being performed in the world’s major venues by world-famous musicians.
The electronic media play a major role in his output, but he also draws on the wealth of traditional instrumental sound. He has written solo, chamber, orchestral, electro-acoustic, theatre and film
music.
In his works, frequently containing a grain of ironic distance, Kupczak does not hesitate to take advantage of a whole palette of musical means from the past, which he “transforms in original ways and freely juxtaposes with one another, thus arriving at completely new qualities.”
Major works: Creation I (Thinking of Tomasz Sikorski) for recorders, harpsichord and electronics; Symphony No. 1 ‘Capax Dei’ for choir and orchestra; Hummingbirds for symphony orchestra; Voyager – chamber opera.
Phot. Bartek Barczyk
Kupczak played in Robert Kurdybacha’s Techn-No Orkiestra and the Wrocław ZAR Theatre. With Cezary Duchnowski and Paweł Hendrich he performs in the live electronics trio Phonos ek Mechanes. In 2006 his Anaphora No. 5 for cello and computer won the 4th prize in the 53rd International Rostrum of Composers in Paris, and his Lament for female voice, cello, piano and tape – the 2nd prize in the Tadeusz Baird Young Composers’ Competition in Warsaw. In 2019 his Halny (Foehn Wind) for electronics and improvising flutist was recommended at the 66th International Rostrum of Composers in Argentina. Kupczak’s works have been commissioned by festivals and music institutions, as well as being performed in the world’s major venues by world-famous musicians.
The electronic media play a major role in his output, but he also draws on the wealth of traditional instrumental sound. He has written solo, chamber, orchestral, electro-acoustic, theatre and film
music.
In his works, frequently containing a grain of ironic distance, Kupczak does not hesitate to take advantage of a whole palette of musical means from the past, which he “transforms in original ways and freely juxtaposes with one another, thus arriving at completely new qualities.”
Major works: Creation I (Thinking of Tomasz Sikorski) for recorders, harpsichord and electronics; Symphony No. 1 ‘Capax Dei’ for choir and orchestra; Hummingbirds for symphony orchestra; Voyager – chamber opera.
Phot. Bartek Barczyk
