Born on 28th of February 1953 in Warsaw. In the years 1974-75 he studied philosophy at the Academy of Catholic Theology in Warsaw (now the Cardinal Wyszyński University) and later in the years 1977-82 he studied composition under Marian Borkowski at the Music Academy in Warsaw (now The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music), from which he graduated with honours. He also participated in international courses for composers conducted by François-Bernard Mâche (Pécs in 1980) and Iannis Xenakis (Salzburg and Delphi in 1985). He obtained a SACEM scholarship from Sociéte des Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique in France and, as a holder of an Acanthes scholarship, he attended a course in composition led by Olivier Messiaen in Avignon (in 1987).
Awards
He has received many awards for his compositions, such as: in 1981, 3rd prize at the Polish Nationwide Choral Composition Contest in Legnica for his Pensées for three choral groups (1977); an honourable mention at the 2nd Polish Nationwide Composition Contest for Chamber Pieces in Białystok for Kammerkonzert for 14 soloists-chamber musicians (1981); in 1983, 1st Prize at the Polish Composers’ Union Contest for Lokomotywa for 4-part unaccompanied children's choir, setting a poem by Julian Tuwim (Locomotive; 1983) and in a subsequent years an honourable mention for Sinnenwelt (1984). In 1985, in Tokyo, he was awarded a special prize at the ‘Music Today 1985’ International Composition Contest for his Thanatos for solo flute (1984-85). Moreover, he was given the Stanisław Wyspiański Award for his lifetime achievements and the Prix Italia in 1989 and 1990.
Marcin Błażewicz has composed commissioned works for Paul Mefano’s 2e2m (1986), Joseph Herter (1987), The Dramatic Theatre in Warsaw (1992), Polish Radio BIS (1995), 'Kolberg' — a German producer of percussion instruments (1996, 1999), Deutschland Radio (1998), the Percussion Arts Society PAS (1998), Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra & World Brass (1999).
Promoter
Marcin Błażewicz is also a promoter of musical culture. He has organised more than 200 concerts devoted to the promotion of contemporary music, including cycles such as Presentation of Young Composers, Encounters with Contemporary Music and Young Musicians for Young Audiences (Warsaw 1979-81). He was a director and creator of the International New Music Forum Festival (Warsaw, 1983-87) and artistic director of the international festival ‘Jeunesses Musicales’ (Częstochowa, 1986; Warsaw, 1990). He was also acting as a musical advisor to the French Institute in Warsaw and as a jury member of the International Radio Festival Prix Italia (Peruggia 1989).
Between 1986 and 1998, he was a music director of Polish Radio Theatre . In 1992-93 he cooperated with Educational Television and since 1995 has been cooperating with Polish Radio program BIS. In 2000 he founded a magazine about music ‘Muzyka21’ and remained its editor-in-chief until 2001.
He is a member of Polish Society of Authors and Composers ZAiKS, the Percussion Art Society, 'Jeunesses Musicales' and teh Polish Composers' Assosciation.
Educator
He works as an educator as well. He has been a member of the faculty of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music since 1985. In 2003, he became an associate professor at the Chair of Composition. He teaches score reading as well as composition and instrumentation which is his main interest. He was a deputy dean of Department of Composition, Conducting and Theory of Music in the years 1999-2002 and 2005-2008. In 2008, he was elected dean of the department.
Major Works
- A Journey to the Roots of Time, prelude for chamber orchestra after Alejo Carpentier (1979)
- The World of the Senses for orchestra (1984)
- Apeiron for solo cello (1977)
- Vieillesse for baritone and chamber orchestra (1978-79)
- String Quartet (1979-80)
- Brass Quintet (1981)
- Kammerkonzert for 14 soloists-chamber musicians (1981)
- Eruptio for orchestra (1983)
- Thanatos for solo flute (1984-85)
- Arista – an Omen of Death for percussion with live electronics (1986)
- Los Caprichos, concerto for guitar and orchestra (1986-88)
- Et tua res agitur for percussion, 2 trumpets and string orchestra * (1987)
- St Francis’ Cutlets, opera in 2 acts after Stephen Themerson (1991)
- AS for harp and percussion (1992)
- Smithereens of Light for solo voice, male-voice choir and chamber orchestra (1992-93)
- Symphony for tenor and orchestra to a poem by Krzysztof Lipka (1994-2000)
- Sansara for 15 instruments and live electronics (1995)
- Ineffabilis for percussion (1997)
- Piano Concerto (1997)
- The Darkest Dark a mystery of liberation in 3 parts for choir, orchestra and live electronic (1997-99)
- Konzertstück for brass instruments and percussion (1998)
- Kundalini for 6 percussions and live electronic (1998-2000)
- Credo for mixed a cappella choir (1999)
- Marimbaphone Concerto (1999)
- Concerto for flute and strings (1999)
- Can you hear it for accordion and string quartet (2000-2001)
- Concerto for brass instruments and orchestra (2002-2003)
- Ball in the Opera for actors, choir and orchestra (2003)
- Matołek, the Billy-goat, oratorio for children; for narrator, choir and orchestra (2004)
- Sorrow and Joy of Living for soprano, 2 clarinets and 8 percussions (2004)
- Symphony [2nd version] for choir and orchestra(2004)
- Piano Quintet 'Meadow spirit, ...field spirit...' (2004)
- Marimbaphone Concerto No. 2 (2004-2005)
- Sahaj Manush for two percussions (2005)
- Transition in memory Claudio Monteverdi for 8 female voices and bass clarinett (2005)
- Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra (2006)
- Sonata for two pianos and two percussions (2006)
- Ballade for two pianos and two percussions (2006)
- Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (2006)
- Concerto for Trumpet and String Orchestra (2006-2008)
- Concerto Rustico for marimba and symphony orchestra (2007)
- Sonata for marimba (2009)
- Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra (2010)
- Concerto for Accordion and String Orchestra (2012)
- Kali-Yuga for voice, percussion and symphony orchestra (2014)
- Olga Bo, opera in two acts to libretto by Duśka Markowska (2014-2015)
- Double Concerto for violin, accordion and orchestra (2015-2016)
Website: mblazewicz.republika.pl
Author: Małgorzata Kosińska, Polish Music Information Centre, Polish Composers' Union, December 2002. Translated by W.O. March 2014. Update: June 2016, AG.
