A CHRONOLOGICAL VIEW OF WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY IN THE CONTEXT OF WORLD EVENTS

Henryk Górecki

Performance icon
May 25, 1957: Incidental music for Walewski’s play Cinderella by Henryk Górecki (23) is performed for the first time, in Katowice.
Performance icon
February 27, 1958: Several works by Henryk Górecki (24) are performed for the first time, in Katowice: Songs of Joy and Rhythm op.7 for two pianos and chamber orchestra, Concerto for five instruments and string quartet op.11, Toccata op.2 for two pianos, Variations for violin and piano op.4, Sonata for two violins op.10, and the Quartettino op.5 for two flutes, oboe, and violin. This is the first concert devoted entirely to the works of Górecki and will bring him a commission from conductor Andrezej Markowski.
Performance icon
October 3, 1958: Epitafium op.12 for chorus and ensemble by Henryk Górecki (24) to words of Tuwim is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
September 14, 1959: The first, third, and fourth movements of Symphony no.1 by Henryk Górecki (25) are performed for the first time, in Warsaw. See 15 July 1963.
Performance icon
October 10, 1959: Incidental music to Ardrey’s play Tower of Solitude by Henryk Górecki (25) is performed for the first time, in Katowice.
Performance icon
March 18, 1960: Paper Doll, a song by Henryk Górecki (26), is performed for the first time, in a production of Miller’s play A View from the Bridge, in Katowice.
Performance icon
September 21, 1960: Scontri (Collisions) for orchestra by Henryk Górecki (26) is performed for the first time, in Warsaw. Audience members shower the composer with cheers and protests.
Performance icon
February 7, 1961: Chorale in the Form of a Canon for string quartet by Henryk Górecki (27) is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
September 21, 1961: Three Diagrams op.15 for flute by Henryk Górecki (27) is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
May 29, 1962: Genesis I: Elementi op.19/1 for string trio by Henryk Górecki (28) is performed for the first time, in Kraków.
Performance icon
September 16, 1962: Genesis 2: Canti Strumentali op.19/2 for fifteen players by Henryk Górecki (28) is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
April 13, 1963: Piano Quintet op.29 by Alberto Ginastera (47) is performed for the first time, in Teatro La Fenice, Venice. On the same program is the premiere of Diagramma IV for flute by Henryk Górecki (29).
Performance icon
April 30, 1964: Three Pieces in Old Style for strings by Henryk Górecki (30) is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
September 22, 1964: Choros I op.20 for strings by Henryk Górecki (30) is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
October 27, 1965: Refrain op.21 for orchestra by Henryk Górecki (31) is performed for the first time, in Geneva.
Performance icon
September 23, 1967: Musiquette 2 op.23 for four trumpets, four trombones, piano, and percussion by Henryk Górecki (33) is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
October 20, 1967: Musiquette 3 op.25 for at least three violas by Henryk Górecki (33) is performed for the first time, in Katowice, conducted by the composer.
Performance icon
April 26, 1968: Monologhi op.16 for soprano and instruments by Henryk Górecki (34) to his own words is performed for the first time, in West Berlin.
Performance icon
February 12, 1969: Fanfare for brass and strings by Henryk Górecki (35) is performed for the first time, in Wroclaw.
Performance icon
July 18, 1969: Cantata op.26 for organ by Henryk Górecki (35) is performed for the first time, in Kamien Pomorski.
Performance icon
September 24, 1969: Old Polish Music op.24 for brass and strings by Henryk Górecki (35) is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
December 11, 1969: Canticum Graduum op.27 for orchestra by Henryk Górecki (36) is performed for the first time, in Düsseldorf.
Performance icon
January 30, 1970: Four Preludes op.1 for piano by Henryk Górecki (36) is performed for the first time, in Katowice.
Performance icon
April 15, 1970: Musiquette 4 “Trombone Concerto” op.28 for trombone, clarinet, cello, and piano by Henryk Górecki (36) is performed for the first time, in Vienna.
Performance icon
September 24, 1972: Ad matrem op.29 for soprano, chorus, and orchestra by Henryk Górecki (38) to his own words is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
June 22, 1973: Symphony no.2 “Copernican” op.31 for soprano, baritone, chorus, and orchestra by Henryk Górecki (39) to words of the Psalms and Copernicus is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
November 24, 1973: Three Dances op.34 for orchestra by Henryk Górecki (39) is performed for the first time, in Rybnik.
Performance icon
April 5, 1975: Amen op.35 for chorus by Henryk Górecki (41) is performed for the first time, in Poznan.
Performance icon
August 31, 1975: Euntes Ibant et Flebant op.32 for chorus by Henryk Górecki (41) to words of the Psalms is performed for the first time, in Wroclaw.
Performance icon
April 6, 1976: Two Sacred Songs op.30 for baritone and orchestra by Henryk Górecki (42) to words of Skwarnicki is performed for the first time, in Poznan.
Performance icon
April 4, 1977: Symphony no.3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs) op.36 for soprano and orchestra by Henryk Górecki (43) is performed for the first time, in Royan.
Performance icon
January 5, 1978: Three Little Pieces op.37 for violin and piano by Henryk Górecki (44) is performed for the first time, in Katowice.
Performance icon
June 9, 1979: Beatus vir op.38 for baritone, chorus, and orchestra by Henryk Górecki (45) to words of the Psalms is performed for the first time, in Kraków, the composer conducting in the presence of Pope John Paul II. The Pope commissioned the work when he was Archbishop of Kraków to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Stanislaw.
Performance icon
March 2, 1980: Concerto for harpsichord and strings op.40 by Henryk Górecki (46) is performed for the first time, in Katowice.
Performance icon
July 28, 1984: The first movement of the Piano Sonata no.1 by Henryk Górecki (50) is performed for the first time, in Lerchenborg, Denmark. Also premiered is part of Górecki’s Recitatives and Ariosos--Lerchenmusik op.53 for clarinet, cello, and piano. See 17 March 1991 and 25 September 1985.
Performance icon
March 31, 1985: O Domina Nostra op.55 for soprano and organ by Henryk Górecki (51) is performed for the first time, in Poznan.
Performance icon
June 3, 1985: Hail Mary!, the third of the Marian Songs op.54 for chorus by Henryk Górecki (51), is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
September 14, 1985: Songs to Words by J. Slowacki for voice and piano op.48 by Henryk Górecki (51) is performed for the first time, in Zakopane.
Performance icon
September 25, 1985: Recitatives and Ariosos--Lerchenmusik op.53 for clarinet, cello, and piano by Henryk Górecki (51) is performed completely for the first time, in Warsaw. See 28 July 1984.
Performance icon
April 28, 1987: My Vistula, Grey Vistula op.46 for chorus by Henryk Górecki (53) is performed for the first time, in Poznan. Also premiered is his Broad Waters op.39 for chorus.
Performance icon
May 28, 1987: Aria op.59, an operatic scene for tuba, piano, tam-tam, and bass drum by Henryk Górecki (53), is performed for the first time, in Salzburg.
Performance icon
July 19, 1987: Totus Tuus op.60 for chorus by Henryk Górecki (53) to words of Boguslawska is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Performance icon
September 10, 1987: Miserere op.44 for chorus by Henryk Górecki (53) is performed for the first time, in St. Stanislaus Church, Wloclawek. The work was composed in remembrance of the Bydgoszcz incident. See 19 March 1981.
Performance icon
January 21, 1989: Already It is Dusk op.62 for string quartet by Henryk Górecki (55) is performed for the first time, in Minneapolis.
Performance icon
August 3, 1990: Intermezzo for piano by Henryk Górecki (56) is performed for the first time, in Lerchenborg, Denmark.
Performance icon
August 4, 1990: For You, Anne-Lill op.58 for flute and piano by Henryk Górecki (56) is performed for the first time, in Lerchenborg.
Performance icon
November 4, 1990: Good Night op.63 for soprano, alto flute, piano, and three tam-tams by Henryk Górecki (56) to words of Shakespeare is performed completely for the first time, in London. See 6 May 1990.
Performance icon
March 17, 1991: Piano Sonata no.1 by Henryk Górecki (57) is performed completely for the first time, in Helsinki. See 28 July 1984.
Performance icon
August 2, 1991: Three Lullabies op.49 for chorus by Henryk Górecki (57) is performed for the first time, in Lerchenborg, Denmark.
Performance icon
October 27, 1991: Quasi una Fantasia op.64 for string quartet by Henryk Górecki (57) is performed for the first time, in Cleveland.
Performance icon
November 28, 1992: Concerto-Cantata op.65 for flute and orchestra by Henryk Górecki (58) is performed for the first time, in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.
Performance icon
June 12, 1993: Kleines Requiem für eine Polka op.66 for piano and 13 instruments by Henryk Górecki (59) is performed for the first time, in Amsterdam.
Performance icon
October 11, 1993: Come Holy Spirit op.61 for chorus by Henryk Górecki (59) is performed for the first time, in Warsaw.
Event icon
February 28, 1995: Henryk Górecki (61) receives an honorary doctorate from Catholic University in Washington.
Performance icon
May 28, 1995: Little Requiem for a Polka op.66 for piano and 13 instruments by Henryk Górecki (61) is performed for the first time, in New York, the composer at the piano.
Performance icon
February 14, 1996: New works are performed for the first time, in Merkin Concert Hall, New York:  Valentine Piece for flute and little bell by Henryk Górecki (62), Valentine Trills for flute by Joan Tower (57), and Valentine for flute by Christopher Rouse on the eve of his 47th birthday.
Performance icon
February 23, 1996: Three Fragments to Words by Stanislaw Wyspianski for voice and piano by Henryk Górecki (62) is performed for the first time, in Zakopane the composer at the keyboard.
Performance icon
October 12, 1997: Little Fantasia for violin and piano by Henryk Górecki (63) is performed for the first time, in Hannover.
Performance icon
June 21, 2000: Slave, sidus Polonorum op.72 for chorus, percussion, two pianos, and organ by Henryk Górecki (66) is performed for the first time, in the Garden Church, Hannover.
Performance icon
August 13, 2000: Lobesgesang op.76 for chorus and glockenspiel by Henryk Górecki (66) to his own words is performed for the first time, in the Johanneskirche, Mainz.
Performance icon
October 23, 2002: Quasi una fantasia op.78 for orchestra by Henryk Górecki (68) is performed for the first time, in Auditorio Nacional, Madrid. See 27 October 1991.
Performance icon
March 30, 2003: Five Kurpian Songs op.75 for chorus by Henryk Górecki (69) is performed for the first time, in Warsaw. At the performance, Górecki receives the Polish Radio Music Award.
Performance icon
October 15, 2005: …songs are sung op.67 for string quartet by Henryk Górecki (71) is performed for the first time, in Bielsko-Biala, Poland.
Performance icon
November 13, 2005: Two works for chorus by Henryk Górecki (71) are performed for the first time, in Krakow: The Song of Rodziny Katynskie op.81 to words of Lutoborski and Five Marian Songs op.54 to traditional words.
Performance icon
May 5, 2007: Na Aniol Panski op.57 for chorus by Henryk Górecki (73) to words of Przerwa-Tetmajer is performed for the first time, in Czestochowie, Poland.
Death icon
November 12, 2010: Henryk Mikolaj Jozef Górecki dies in Katowice, Republic of Poland, aged 76 years, eleven months, and six days. His earthly remains will be laid to rest in Katowice Sienkiewicza Street Cemetery.
Performance icon
June 23, 2013: Church Songs by Henryk Górecki (†2) is performed for the first time, in the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Krakow.
Performance icon
April 12, 2014: Symphony no.4 op.85 by Henryk Górecki (†3) is performed for the first time, in Royal Festival Hall, London.
Performance icon
April 21, 2014: Kyrie op.83 for chorus, percussion, and piano or strings by Henryk Górecki (†3) is performed for the first time, in St. John’s Cathedral, Warsaw.
Performance icon
November 4, 2015: Sanctus Adalbertus op.71, an oratorio for soprano, baritone, chorus, and orchestra by Henryk Górecki (†4) to words of the Psalms, is performed for the first time, in ICE Kraków.