Aleksandra Gryka (born 17 May 1977) is a Polish classical composer of experimental music. Her works have been performed at such festivals as the Warsaw Autumn, Sacrum Profanum and Juilliard Focus! Festival.
Early life and education Aleksandra Gryka was born on 17 May 1977, in Warsaw. She started learning to play the piano at the age of six. In 2003, she graduated with honors in composition under the supervision of Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar and computer composition under Magdalena Długosz at the Academy of Music in Kraków. During her studies, she also took composition courses in Kraków, Helsinki, Buckow and Reichenau.
Career Her work is characterized as uncompromising and experimental. Although the structure of her works stems from modernist traditions, what is most important to her is originality and timbre. Gryka writes pieces for instruments, although she also explores electronic music. She draws inspiration from various sources, including the works of Iannis Xenakis, Frédéric Chopin and Gérard Grisey. She feels drawn to spectralism and sonorism.
Gryka's compositions have been performed, among others, in Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy and the United States. Her works could be heard at such festivals, as the Warsaw Autumn (2003: world premiere of Interialcell), Sacrum Profanum and Juilliard Focus! Festival. Gryka's work has appeared in the repertoire of, among others, an_ARCHE new music ensemble and Kwadrofonik. In 2005, she started composing music for theater performances. In 2006, the futuristic ballet Alpha Kryonia xe by choreographer Jacek Przybyłowicz was staged at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw, to which Gryka composed music. The piece was inspired by the works of Stanisław Lem.
Works
For D. for piano solo, 1999 LIEN-AL for cello, harpsichord and accordion, 2000 High3bbingNor. for symphony orchestra, 2000 Interioryzacion for computer, 2000 OXYGEN nr.369,1 for tape and piano, 2001 NonStopping center for harpsichord solo, 2001 (1”)exists as…(-1”) for flute, accordion, piano, 3 percussions and cello, 2001 Project ien for tape, video and dancer, 2002 JaIchIJe for string quartet and marimba, 2002 Interialcell for instrumental ensemble, 2003 Alpha Kryonia XE ballet, 2003 eSU for tape and video elements, 2004 konstrunity 0100 for 12 voices, 2004 Tii for soprano and instrumental ensemble from opera saga Komander Kobayashi, 2004–2005 ambeoidal MTOCSs for clarinet, marimba, piano, violin, tape and video, 2005 NTvacou for contrabass recorder, harpsichord, violin and cello, 2006 SCREAM YOU, opera from the Kommander Kobayashi II project, 2006 Youmec for harpsichord and tape, 2006 {FFO.NO.}e for cello, 2007 BAe 146 OY-CRG.Sylar for instrumental ensemble, 2007 NEI for violin, tape and video, 2008 SCREEM QUEEN opera, developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT, 2008 t.Aamiper for orchestra, trumpet solo and electronics, 2009 The LighetM for string quartet, 2009 Erschöpfung opera, developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT, 2010 Glück opera, developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT, 2011 einerjedeneither for orchestra, 2011 observerobserver for Paetzold flute, double-bass flute and video, 2012 10,12,13,-31 for string quartet, 2012 das Schloss opera, developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT, 2013 Der Sieg Uber die Sonne opera, developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT, 2013 A.CELLfalserator for 2 pianos, 2013 W.ALTER’s(Z) for mezzo-soprano, 2 pianos, 2 percussionists and electronics, 2014 |H_He| for choir, multipercussion and electronics, 2014 mutedisorder quartet for clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, piano and percussion instruments, 2015 emptyloop for string quartet, 2020 PLASTIC for electronics/samples, 2021
Awards and nominations
2000: first prize at the EuroArtMeeting Composition Competition in Wrocław for the song High3bbingNor 2003, 2006: nominations for the Paszport Polityki award 2004: Prize of the Christoph and Stephan Kaske Foundation for electroacoustic work 2006: nomination for the TVP Kultura Award 2009: nomination for the "Cogito" Public Media Award 2012: award for music to the play Trash Story at the 12th National Festival of Contemporary Dramaturgy "Rzeczywistość Przedstawiona" in Zabrze
References