Bogusław Schaeffer

Commemorative plaque on the apartment block Osiedle Kolorowe 4, where the artist lived and worked. Unveiled in 2025. Bogusław Julian Schaeffer (also Schäffer) (6 June 1929 – 1 July 2019 ) was a Polish composer, musicologist, and graphic artist, a member of the avant-garde "Cracow Group" of Polish composers alongside Krzysztof Penderecki and others.

Schaeffer was born in Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine). After studying violin in Opole and graduating with a degree in musical composition under Zdzisław Jachimecki in 1953 at the Academy of Music in Kraków, he became an active composer and musical theoretician. From 1963, he was a lecturer on composition at the Kraków Academy, and he was a professor at the Hochschule für Musik in Salzburg from the mid-1980s to 2000.

Konstancja Kochaniec and Adam Walaciński were among his students.

Schaeffer's 'Klavierkonzert' was used on the soundtrack of David Lynch's 2006 film Inland Empire. "Solo", a documentary about Schaeffer was released in 2008.

In 2022, American electronic music duo Matmos released an album dedicated to the composer.

Awards 1959 - 2nd Prize at the Grzegorz Fitelberg Competition in Katowice for Monosonata for 24 solos string instruments 1962 - Prize at the Artur Malawski Competition in Kraków for Musica ipsa 1964 - 2nd Prize at the Fitelberg Competition for Little Symphony 2007 - Grand cultural award of the province of Salzburg

Most significant works

Books New Music. Problems in Contemporary Composing techniques (Nowa Muzyka) - 1958 Introduction to Composition (1974)

Musical works

Orchestral works Quattro Movimenti for piano and orchestra - 1957 Topofonica for 40 different instruments - 1960 Musica ipsa for orchestra - 1962 Music for MI for vibraphone and orchestra - 1963 Collage and Form for 8 jazz musician and orchestra - 1963 Collage for orchestra - 1964 Text for orchestra - 1971 Warsaw Overture for orchestra - 1975 Stabat Mater for sopran, alt, string orchestra and orgeln - 1983 Missa Sinfonica for orchestra - 1986

Concertante 4 Movimenti for piano and chamber orchestra - 1957 Concerto Breve for cello and orchestra - 1959 Concerto for flute, flute trio and orchestra - 1963 Violin Concerto - 1963 Piano Concerto II for piano and orchestra - 1967 Jazz Concerto for 12 musicians and orchestra - 1969 Concerto for 3 pianos - 1972 Concerto for guitar and orchestra - 1984 Concerto for 2 piano 4 hands and orchestra - 1988 Violin Concerto II - 1989 Piano Concerto III for piano, orchestra and electronic media - 1990 Concerto for Viola and Orchestra - 1997 Piano Concerto IV for piano, orchestra and electronic media - 1999 Violin Concerto III for violin and orchestra - 1999 Violin Concerto IV for violinist with 3 violins and chamber orchestra - 2003 Piano Concerto V for piano and 15 vocalists - 2004 Piano Concerto VI for piano and 11 instruments (including accordion) - 2004 Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra - 2004 Piano Concerto VII for piano and chamber orchestra - 2005 Violin Concerto V for violin and female chorus - 2006

Chamber music Music for string quartet - 1954 Permutations for 10 instruments - 1956 String Quartet No.1 - 1957 Extremes for 10 instruments - 1957 Monosonate for 6 string quartets - 1946 Lineare Construction for piano - 1959 Kodes for chamber orchestra - 1961 String Quartet No.2 - 1964 Composition for harp and piano - 1966 Estratto for string trio - 1971 String Quartet No.3 - 1971 Mare for piano and 9 instruments - 1971 Negative Music for chosen instrument - 1972 Free Form I for 5 instruments - 1972 Iranian Set for flute, piano, 3 actors & ensemble of performers - 1976 Minimal Art for tuba and piano - 1977 Gravesono for wind instrument - 1977 Self-expression for violoncello - 1978 Kesukann for 13 string instruments - 1978 Esatto e libero for violin and piano - 1983 Mouhadatsa for viola and violoncello - 1985 Kwaiwa for violin and computer - 1986 Summer Music for accordion and piano - 1987 Missa brevis for choir - 1988 Spring Music for viola and piano - 1988 Winter Music for horn and piano - 1988 Love Moments - 1990 Monophonie II for 13 violas - 1997 Kreuzweg 11 for saxophone, accordion, percussion and viola - 2003 Salzburg Spectres for 4 violas - 2005 Quartet for 4 violas - 2006 String Quartet No.17 - 2006

Solo works Sonate for violin solo - 1955 Negative for flute solo - 1960 Construction for vibraphone solo - 1962 Project for tuba and tape - 1980 Euterpe for oboe solo - 1984 Sonata for viola solo - 1991 Espedozione for trombone solo - 2000 Per Violino Solo - 2002 Raccontino for marimba solo - 2005

Keyboard works Sonatine - 1952 Composition - 1954 Model I-XXXIV - 1956-2006 Described Emotions - 1966 Sonate II for organ - 1985 Sonate III-IV for organ - 1986 Megasonata for piano - 1994 Fantasia (24 movements) for organ - 2003 Fantasie Impromptu for piano - 2004 Grand Sonata for piano solo and electronic media - 2006

Opera Monodram, opera radiowa, 65' - 1968 Liebesbliecke opera, 150' - 1990