Can You Tell Me More About Gorecki?

Question

I just downloaded his Symphony No. 3 and pretty much thought I was going to die (beautiful, sorrowful). But when I Wikipedia'ed him, it said he was mostly a minimalist composer.

Any other pieces of his that you would recommend? Or any pieces by other composers, even?

Answer 1

Well, "minimalism" -- (really hard to define) is the style that he writes in -- it's not a criticism of his music. (If you already knew that, I apologize)

Other minimalists include Steve Reich, Terry Riley, John Adams, and Phillip Glass. Of these, my favorites are Adams and Reich. Can't stand Glass.


Terry Riley's signature work is called "In C", and features a series of snipets tp be played and repeated in order by up to 18 musicians -- all at their own tempo and dynamic level.

Adams wrote a great work called "Shaker Loops", also "Harmonielehr" and "Fearul Symmetries". Reich wrote an intesting, somehwat aleatoric work called "Violin Phase", and a piece for amplified instruments and sampled vocal phrases called "City Life" His music often uses electronics or taped sounds to go along with conventional instruments, and sound loops phased against themselves -- some would call it "process music" -- and it is always very interesting.

As far as Glass goes, it's up to you -- all his crap sounds the same.

Those would be good places to start.

Gorecki's 3rd Symphony is the piece that he is famous for. His greatest hit, if you will. I am not familiar with his other stuff, so I can't tell you if it measures up to the 3rd Symphony. Check out the discography, and see what you can get from limewire or itunes. Good luck and happy listening!!

Answer 2

Yeah, his 3rd symphony is the "big one." If you like that piece, you should check out his "Miserere," which is an a cappella choral piece, I think.

Not really my bag, but I think you'll like that.