He studied musicology at the Jagiellonian University under Zdzisław Jachimecki from 1947 to 1952. At around the same time, from 1947 to 1956, he studied music theory with Aleksander Frączkiewicz (diploma in 1955) at the State Academy of Music in Kraków, composition under Stanisław Wiechowicz (diploma in 1956), and piano under Sergiusz Nadgryzowski and Jan Hoffman, as well as organ under Józef Chwedczuk. He continued his musical education in Paris, where from 1958 to 1959 he studied composition with Nadia Boulanger and Max Deutsch and participated in seminars lead by Olivier Messiaen. In addition, in 1959, he took part in the International Courses for Composers in Darmstadt.
Since his studies, he has been involved solely in composition and he has received numerous awards for his works, including first prize for Symphonic Sketch No. 4 for orchestra (1958) and second prize for Symphonic Allegro for orchestra (1957) at the Competition of Graduates in Composition; in 1960, a silver medal at the International Composers' Competition in Vercelli for Sen kwietny / Flowery Dream [version 1], 5 songs for voice and piano with lyrics by Julian Przyboś (1959); an award bestowed by Netherlands Radio at the International Competition for Composers in Holland, in 1962, for Pour un Ensemble for voice and 24 string instruments (1961); second prize at the Grzegorz Fitelberg Composition Competition for Poéme de Loire, 5 French Songs for soprano and orchestra, in 1968; an honourable mention at the same competition for Skrzydła i ręce /Wings and Hands for baritone and symphonic orchestra (1972); Prix de Composition Musicale Prince Reinier III de Monaco for Portraits Lyriques for mezzo-soprano, 2 violins, cello and piano (1974); and in 1982 – second prize in the Competition of Organ Works in Gambaronyo Lake Maggiore for Preludia Maryjne /St Mary’s Preludes for organ (1982).
In addition, Juliusz Łuciuk was presented with the Prime Minister's Award for his piano works for children (1976), the Award of the City of Kraków (1983), the Brother Albert Award for his achievements in the field of sacred music (1983), the Award of the Governor of Kraków (1992), the Award of the Ministry of Culture and Arts (1995), the Award of the President of the City of Częstochowa (1997), the Award of the Association of Polish Composers (1998), the Order of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (2001), the Special Award of the Ministry of Culture (2004), the Medal of Małopolska Region (2004).
Selected Compositions:
- Trzy pieśni do słów Leopolda Staffa/ Three Songs to the lyrics by Leopold Staff for soprano and piano (1954)
- Dzikie wino/ Virgin Ivy, cantata for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1955)
- Capriccio for violin and piano (1956)
- Sonata for bassoon and piano (1956)
- Sonata for clarinet and piano (1956)
- Four Minatures for Piano (1957)
- Szkice symfoniczne/ Symphony Sketches for orchestra (1957)
- Szkic symfoniczny nr 4/ Symphony Sketch nr 4 for orchestra (1957)
- Allegro symfoniczne/ Symphonic Allegro for orchestra (1958)
- Sen kwietny/ Flowerish Dream [version I], 5 songs with lyrics by Julian Przyboś Kompozycja/ Composition for four orchestral ensembles (1960)
- Sen kwietny/ Flowerish Dream [version II], 5 songs with lyrics by Julian Przyboś for voice and 12 instruments (1960)
- Pour un Ensemble for reciting voice and 24 string instruments (1961)
- Enfiando for symphony orchestra (1962)
- Niobe, ballet – pantomime in 1 act for mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1962)
- Improwizacje dziecięce/ Children’s Improvisations for piano (1962)
- Melorhythms for orchestra (1962)
- Maraton, pantomime for prepared piano (1963)
- Lirica di Timbri for prepared piano (1963)
- Pacem in terris for female voice and prepared piano (1964)
- Suknia/ Gown, pantomime drama for prepared piano and chamber ensemble (1965)
- Narzędzie ze światła/ Tool Made of Light [version I] for baritone and symphony orchestra (1966)
- Narzędzie ze światła/ Tool Made of Light [version II] for baritone and piano (1966)
- Cztery sonatiny na fortepiano/ Four Sonatines for Piano (1966-69)
- Brand - Peer Gynt, pantomime for 2 prepared pianos and chamber ensemble (1967)
- Passacaglia for prepared piano (1968)
- Poéme de Loire, 5 French songs for soprano and symphony orchestra (1968)
- Speranza Sinfonica for orchestra (1969)
- Kaszëbë for solo voice, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1969)
- Lamentazioni in memoriam Grażyna Bacewicz for orchestra (1970)
- Sen nocy listopadowej /November Night’s Dream choreographic drama for instrumental ensemble (1971)
- Wiatrowiersze/ Windpoems for baritone and chamber ensemble (1971)
- Contemplazioni for soprano and organ (1971)
- Kiedy minie 5 lat/ When 5 Years Will Pass for soprano, prepared piano and chamber ensemble (1972)
- Skrzydła i ręce/ Wings and Hands for baritone and symphony orchestra (1972)
- Śmierć Eurydyki/ Death of Eurydice, ballet in 1 act for mezzo-soprano and small symphony orchestra (1972)
- Concertino for piano and small symphony orchestra (1973)
- Miłość Orfeusza/ Orpheus’s Love, opera-ballet for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra (1973)
- Portraits Lyriques for mezzo-soprano, two violins, cello and piano(1974)
- Legenda warszawska quasi kołysanka/ Warsaw Legend Quasi Lullaby for symphony orchestra (1974)
- Missa gratiarum actione for mixed choir (1974)
- Medea, ballet in 1 act for soprano, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (1975)
- Trzy pieśni zbójnickie/ Three highlanders’ folk songs for tenor and mixed choir a cappella (1975)
- Demiurgos, opera in 1 act for soloists, mixed choir and chamber ensemble (1976)
- Franciszek z Asyżu/ Francis of Assisi, oratorio for soprano, tenor, baritone, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1976)
- Hymnus de Caritate per coro misto a cappella (1977)
- Image for solo organ (1977)
- Trzy baby/ Three Women for mixed choir a cappella (1977)
- W jaworowym lesie/ In a Sycamore Forest for piano (1977)
- Monologi i dialogi/ Monologues and Dialogues for soprano flutes (1977)
- Arabesk/ Arabesque for piano (1978)
- Pieśń nadziei o papieżu słowiańskim/ A Song of Hope for Slavic Pope for mixed choir a cappella (1978)
- Pokutnik z Osjak/ A Penitent from Osjak, music for Roman Brandstaeter’s drama for soloists, mixed choir, male choir, prepared piano, flute and percussion (1979)
- Wiklina/ Wicker, 5 pieces for chamber string orchestra (1979)
- Wariacje/ Variations for cello and piano (1980)
- Quattro antiphonae for mixed choir a cappella (1980-84)
- Hymnus de Sancto Norberto for boys’ or female choir (1982)
- Preludia maryjne/ St. Mary’s Preludes for organ (1982)
- Pory życia/ Seasons of Life for soprano and piano (1982)
- Trzy pieśni pasyjne/ Three Passions for soprano and organ (1982)
- Suita maryjna/ St Mary’s Suite for mixed choir a cappella (1983)
- Trzy miniatury na skrzypce i fortepian/ Three miniatures for violin and piano (1984)
- Litania polska/ Polish Litany for soloists, mixed choir and string orchestra (1984)
- Apocalypsis per solo soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and choir (1985)
- Partes variabiles for children’s or female choir a cappella, organ or string orchestra (1985)
- Concerto per contrabasso ed orchestra (1986)
- Arabeska nr 2/ Arabesque nr 2 for two pianos (1987)
- O, ziemio polska/ Oh, Polish Land for mixed choir a cappella (1987)
- Vesperae in assumptione beatae Mariae Virginis for Male choir (1987-89)
- Ostra Brama/ Gate of Dawn for mixed choir (1989)
- Chwalcie Pana/ Praise the Lord, psalm for male choir (1989)
- Ballata per chitarra (1990)
- Modlitwa do Świętego Jana Kantego/ A Prayer to St. Jan Kanty for mixed choir (1990)
- Magnificat for mixed choir (1990)
- Pielgrzym/ Pilgrim for mixed choir (1990)
- M - Allegretto for four pianos (1991)
- Oremus pro Pontifice Joanne Paulo Secundo for mixed choir(1992)
- Antyfony/Amtiphones for mixed choir (1992)
- Tripticum paschale for organ (1993)
- Msza polska/ Polish Mass for mezzo-soprano, mixed choir and brass orchestra (1993)
- Hommage à quelqu'un for guitar and string orchestra (1993)
- l'Inscription for mixed choir (1994)
- Cztery piosenki religijne/ Four Religious Songs for solo voice, piano or organ (1994)
- Sonet słowiański XV/ Slavic Sonnet XV for baritone, mixed choir and brass orchestra (1995)
- Sonet słowiański IX/ Slavic Sonnet IX for mixed choir (1995)
- Gesang am Brunnen, oratorio for soprano, tenor, baritone, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (1996)
- Hymn uwielbienia/ Hymn of Adoration for mixed choir (1996)
- Sanctus adalbertus flos purpureus, oratorio, on life and martyr’s death of St. Wojciech for mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1997)
- Kantata jubileuszowa/The Jubilee Cantata for soprano, tenor and brass orchestra (1998)
- Litania do Matki Bożej Supraślskiej/Litany to Virgin Mary of Supraśl for alto, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (1998-99)
- Święta Kinga/ Saint Kinga, song for celebrations of the canonization of Queen Kinga for mixed choir a cappella (1999)
- Chrystus Pantokrator/ Christ Pantocrator, oratorio for soprano, alto, tenor, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (2000)
- Błogosławione Siostry Męczenniczki/Blessed Martyr Sisters for female choir (2000)
- Consecrazione for organ (2003)
- Strumień Boży/ Lord’s Stream oratorio for mazzo-soprano, baritone, mixed choir and symphony orchestra, text: first part of Tryptyk Rzymski/ Roman Triptych by John Paul II (2004)
- O Świętej Klarze z Asyżu/ On Saint Klara of Assis, four songs for female choir (2004)
- Tryptyk wileński 'Trzy pieśni romantyczne/ Vilnius Triptych, Three Romantic Songs for mezzo-soprano and piano (2005)
- Prasakrament. Medytacja o Praźródle Miłości/ Pre-Sacrament. Meditations on the Origin of Love, for solo voice (2005)
- Medytacje nad Księgą Rodzaju na progu Kaplicy Sykstyńskiej/ Meditations on the Book of Genesis at the Threshold of the Sistine Chapel, oratorio for mezzo-soprano, baritone and piano, text: second part of Roman Triptych by John Paul II (2006)
- Św. Rafał Kalinowski - Pielgrzym Boży/ Saint Rafał Kalinowski – Lord’s Pilgrim, oratorio for soprano, tenor and mixed choir (2007)
Author: Małgorzata Kosińska, Polish Music Information Centre, Association of Polish Composers, July 2002; transl. GS, August 2015, update: October 2020