Bartosz Kowalski-Banasewicz

Bartosz Kowalski-Banasewicz is a composer, born in Warsaw on 7th March 1977.

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He began studying composition at the State Secondary Music School in Warsaw under supervision of Sławomir Czarnecki. Then he studied in the class of composition under Marian Borkowski at the Academy of Music in Warsaw, from which he graduated with distinction. He perfected his skills during workshops at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart led by Matias Herman and Marek Chołoniewski. In 2002 he participated in the International Seminar of Representatives of Departments of Composition of Higher Music Schools of Central European Countries. He is a two-time awardee of the scholarship granted by the Minister of Culture and Art (1997, 2006) and the Society of Authors ZAiKS (2005).

He is a laureate of numerous composition competitions: in 1996 he was awarded distinction at the National Composition Competition for Secondary School Students in Tarnów for the 'String Quartet No. 1'(1996), in 1997 – distinction at the 3rd 'Musica Sacra' Competition for Young Composers in Częstochowa for 'Hail Mary' for mixed choir (1997), Grand Prix, Apollo’s Chariot and foreign scholarship in class of Matias Herman at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart at the 5th National Andrzej Krzanowski Composers Competition for Secondary Schools for a song 'Domine Jesu'for mixed choir (1997) and Second Prize (First Prize was not awarded) at the 5th National Competition for Young Composers in Tarnów for the 'Breath of Spring' for string orchestra (1997), in 1998 – Second Prize (First Prize was not awarded) at the 3rd 'Musica Sacra'Competition for Young Composers for 'Domine Deus' for mixed choir (1997) and Third Prize at the Young Composers Competition in Tarnów for 'Etude' for piano quintet (1997), in 1999 – First Prize (ex aequo) at the 41st Tadeusz Baird Young Composers Competition for 'A Study of Space' for grand string orchestra (1999), in 2000 – First Prize (ex aequo) at the 5th 'Musica Sacra' Competition for Young Composers for 'Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth' for mixed choir (2000), in 2001 – First Prize (ex aequo) at the 43rd Tadeusz Baird Young Composers Competition for 'Dreams About Transformations of Matter' for tape (2001) and First Prize at the 6th 'Musica Sacra' Competition for Young Composers for 'Lacrimosa' for mixed choir (2001), in 2002 – Fourth Prize at the Kazimierz Serocki 8th International Composers’ Competition for 'Symphony of Circles' for symphonic orchestra (2002) and First Prize (Award of the Rector of the Academy of Music in Warsaw) at the 1st National Composers’ Competition for Students of Music Academies for 'Quintet for Brass Instruments' (2001), in 2004 – First Prize at the Tadeusz Baird Young Composers Competition for 'Stadium for piano and string quartet' (2003), in 2005 – First Prize at the 'Musica Sacra’ International Composers’ Competition for 'Crucifixus et Resurrexit' for mixed choir (2005), in 2006 – First Prize for 'Symphony no. 2'(2006) at the Grzegorz Fitelberg International Composers’ Competition in Katowice, in 2008 – Second Prize (ex-aequo) for 'Exanastasis' for orchestra (2007) at the Karol Szymanowski National Composers’ Competition in Warsaw (2008). Moreover, in 2010 he was awarded Forst Prize at the Wanda Landowska Composers’ Competition for 'Klawituda' for harpsichord, in 2012 – First Prize at the 'Arboretum' Krzysztof Penderecki International Composers’ Competition for 'Prismatic Shapes' for string orchestra and First Prize at the 'Musica Sacra'International Composers’ Competition for 'Rex Tremendae’.

Symphony of the Circles by Bartosz Kowalski-Banasiewicz was qualified by the international jury in Zagreb to be performed during the 'Croatia 2005' World Music Days – an annual festival organised by the International Society for Contemporary Music. Furthermore, his works were performed at such festivals as Warsaw Music Encounters, Musica Polonica Nova in Wrocław, Audioart in Warsaw, Laboratorium in Warsaw, Musica Moderna in Łódź, Gaude Mater in Częstochowa, Students’ Music Forum in Warsaw, by, among others, Polish Radio Orchestra, philharmonic orchestras in Kielce, Katowice, Częstochowa, 'Leopoldinum' Wrocław Chamber Orchestra, Zagreb Radio and Television Orchestra, 'Leopolis'Lviv Chamber Orchestra, Schola Cantorum Gedanensis, Polish Radio Choir in Cracow and such bands as: Chamberbrass, Warsaw Brass, Kwartludium.

He also creates film scores that were presented, among others, at 'Camerimage' and 'Łodzią po Wiśle' festivals. His accomplishments also include numerous arrangements and instrumentations of both classical and popular works. He cooperated, among others, with Waldemar Malicki (symphonic arrangements for TV programme 'Co tu jest grane' and 'Filharmonia Dowcipu') as well as Alin Mleczko and Prima Vista quartet ('La Fiesta'record').

Since 2005 Bartosz Kowalski-Banasewicz has worked as a lecturer at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, where he teaches classes in instrumentation and propaedeutics of composition. He also participated in the work of juries of composition competitions organised at the Józef Elsner Second Grade State Music School in Warsaw and the 'Musica Sacra' competition.

As an instrumentalist he took part in various events related to improvised music, performing with Krzysztof Knittel, Jerzy Kornowicz, Marek Chołoniewski, Tadeusz Sudnik, and Michał Górczyński. Currently, he is a member and co-founder of Sonofrenia band. He also composes music for films. The films containing his score were presented, among others, at the Camerimage and Łodzią po Wiśle festivals.

Kowalski’s two pieces – 'Contra tempus' (2013) and 'Flautorganix' (2015) were co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage as part of the 'Collections' programme – priority 'Composition orders', carried out by the Institute of Music and Dance. The composition 'In affecto' for solo violin (2015) became a compulsory work at the 5th Tadeusz Wroński International Competition for solo violin.

He is an author of nearly 100 compositions, among which a large part is formed by symphonic, orchestra, choral and chamber works. As an improvising instrumentalist (trumpet, cornet, French horn, recorder, piano, guitars, electronic instruments), he participates in numerous concerts, workshops and happenings. He also creates electronic music and film scores, and his accomplishments also include a number of arrangements and instrumentations of both classical and popular works.

He also received the title of Resident Composer at the Świętokrzyska Philharmonic (in the 2012/2013 season). In 2014 he was awarded Gloria Artis bronze medal by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.

Major compositions:

String quartet no. 1 (1996)
Third Blue for cello and piano (1996)
Four pieces for harp (1996)
Breath of Spring concerto for string orchestra (1997)
Impression for violin and piano (1997)
Pastorales for recorder ensemble (1997)
Where the Rainbow Ends for oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon (1997)
Domine Deus for mixed choir (1997)
Hail Mary for mixed choir (1997)
Domine Jesu for mixed choir (1997)
A Shadow In Love for alto and double bass (1998)
The Cosmos’ Breath for tape (1998)
Amen for mixed choir (1999)
A Study of Space for grand string orchestra (1999)
Moment for strings (1999)
Etude for piano quintet (1999)
Dialogue for two bass horns (1999)
Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth for mixed choir (2000)
We Praise Thee, O God for mixed choir (2000)
Si-La for three clarinets (2000)
Counter-symmetries for 4 drummers (2000)
Cantabile for solo clarinet (2000)
Concert etude for grand piano (2001)
Quintet for brass instruments (2001)
Lacrimosa for mixed choir (2001)
Dreams About Transformations of Matter for tape (2001)
Continuum for small string orchestra (2001)
Episode for symphonic orchestra (2001)
String quartet no. 2 (Prometheyan String Quartet) (2001)
Atmospheres for tape (2001)
Quartlude I for violin, bass clarinet, marimba and piano (2002)
Symphony of Circles for symphonic orchestra (2002)
Soul of the Old Machines for tape (2002)
Transformations for tape (2002)
Quartlude II for violin, bass clarinet, marimba and piano (2002)
Drops of Memories on a Spider Web of Time for piano (2002)
Ave Maria for mixed choir (2003)
Fanfarodia for chamber orchestra (2003)
Dies Irae per coro ed orchestra (2003)
Stadium for piano and string quartet (2003)
Quartlude III for violin, bass clarinet, marimba and piano (2004)
String quartet no. 3 'Quarthesis'(2004)
Podhale Colours for brass quintet (2004)
Carol Suite for choir and chamber orchestra (2004)
A Study of Space II for string orchestra (2005)
Crucifixus et Resurrexit for mixed choir (2005)
Constellations for two marimbas and electronics (2005)
The Jubilee Fanfare of the Polish Composers’ Union for brass and drums (2005)
Light for choir to the lyrics by Barbara Czerwonka (2005)
Combinations of Chaos for two pianos (2005)
Chum and Lady Chum for choir (2005)
Fabricus for chamber orchestra (2006)
Recordare for choir and symphonic orchestra (2006)
Where Is The Cat for female choir (2006)
Symphony no. 2 (2006)
Fourth Blue for cello and piano (2006)
The Wind’s Wrath for saxophone and small orchestra (2006)
Symmetric Visions for orchestra (2006)
Crubleled Music for orchestra (2006)
Brass Concerto for brass quintet and symphonic orchestra (2007)
Cornetisations for cornet and electronics (2007)
Exanastasis for orchestra (2007)
Cantabile II for clarinet and beat-box (2008)
Small Polish Music for strings (2008)
Improfonium I, controlled improvisation (2008)
A Weird Creature for cello, piano and reciter (2008)
Constellations II for two drummers and electronics (2008)
Cantabile II for clarinet and beat-box (2008)
Cornetisations for cornet and electronics (2008)
A Little Romani Girl (a song from the Kurpie region) for choir (2009)
Jubilate Deo II, version for choir, two pianos, drums and cornet (2010)
Stadium II for piano, drums and string orchestra (2010)
Small Polish concerto for violin and string orchestra (2010)
The Final Exodus for ten pianos and orchestra (2010)
Mindscape for orchestra, soloists and electronics (2010)
Fifth Blue for cello and accordion (2010)
Klawituda for harpsichord (2010)
Moment for solo trumpet (2011)
Waltoriana for solo horn (2011)
Vice Versa for three flutes and double bass (2011)
Etnia for fiddle, cimbalom, drums and string orchestra (2011)
Circles on the Water for harpsichord and strings (2011)
Circles on the Water II for harp, vibraphone, piano and string quartet (2011)
Breaking Through the Silence for symphonic orchestra (2011)
A Little Overture for chamber orchestra (2011)
Streams for harp, double bass and electronic media (2011)
Film score for 'Błąd atrybucji'directed by Łukasz Mejlon (2011)
Film score for 'Noc kuglarzy'directed Małgorzata Kałużyńska (2012)
Film score for 'Biec w stronę Ty'directed by Hanna Brulińska (2012)
Duality Concertino for trumpet, bass horn and orchestra (2012)
Prismatic Shapes for string orchestra (2012)
Rex Mundi for choir, strings and drummers (2012)
The Wind’s Wrath for saxophone and orchestra (2012)
Rex tremendae maiestatis for choir (2012)
Etnia II for solo cello and chamber orchestra (2012)
Contra tempus for Baroque instruments band (2013)
Action Stories for symphonic orchestra (2015)
Prisma for piano quintet (2014)
Symphony no. III Symmetrical Visions for orchestra (2014)
Flautorganix for flute and organ (2015)

The composer’s website:
www.BartoszKowalski.com
https://www.facebook.com/kowalskimusic

Author: Małgorzata Kosińska, Polish Music Information Centre, Polish Composers’ Union, September 2003; update: MG, December 2019.

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A galaxy awaits...

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Fryderyk Chopin University of Music