Krzysztof Penderecki (1933 - Present)

Introduction
Krzysztof Penderecki is a Polish composer and conductor born in November of 1933. He has won five Grammy awards and has been acclaimed for his work in various other context as well. In fact, The Guardian has recognized him as Poland's greatest living composer. He is well known for his symphonies and orchestral works, operas, instrumental concertos, and his choral works which are primarily based on religious text.

Work Analysis
Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima (1960) - Written for a 52-instrument string orchestra, the piece begins with an intense screech with no definite pitch center. Rather, tone clusters are developed through the layering of each instrumental section with no distinct rhythmic pattern. The string players make use of a variety of techniques with their instruments to achieve certian effects. These include glissando, playing behind the bridge and on the tailpiece, forceful vibratos and, at times, even slapping the instrument. The focus of the piece may certainly be said to be in its dynamics, timbre, and articulation.

Comparisons
This piece in particular was unlike anything I have heard from any other composer throughout the semester. I would say thats its density seemed immediately comparable only to some of the works of Charles Ives and Elliott Carter. Although the instrumentation is limited to only string instruments, the sounds and colors which Penderecki explored definitely reach a certain creative height similar to those of Ives and Carter.

Observations
Despite how innovative and simply impressive Penderecki's music seemed to me, I could not help but associate the Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima with a bloody horror scene or something equally terrifying. I suppose this is simply due to the fact that music with similar textures has been included in horror movies in the past. This association was in fact confirmed after learning that Penderecki has had his music adapted for several iconic horror films of the past such as The Exorcist (1973) and The Shining (1980).