Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2015

An Unseen Little Engine

20150525

Grazyna Bacewicz packed a lot into her relatively short life. She began to write music at the age of 13 and by the time of her death at the age of 59 in 1969, she left behind a legacy of over two hundred compositions, including symphonies, concertos and other works for orchestra, string quartets and sonatas.

In today's programme Donald Macleod explores Bacewicz's early years, with the help of Polish music expert Adrian Thomas.

Donald Macleod and Polish music expert Adrian Thomas explore Bacewicz's early years.

2015

A Mood Of Determined Resistance

20150526

In the company of Polish music expert Adrian Thomas, Donald Macleod explores the music of Grazyna Bacewicz during the years of World War II, including her Overture from 1943, which she begins with timpani, beating out the Morse code 'V' for victory which the BBC used throughout the war - borrowed from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony - as the Victory call sign.

Donald Macleod focuses on Bacewicz's music written during the years of World War Two.

2015

A False Dawn

20150527

Donald Macleod and his guest, the Polish music expert Adrian Thomas, explore the music of Grazyna Bacewicz in the years after World War II when, before Polish musicians and composers found themselves subject to the diktats of a new totalitarian regime under the Soviets, there was a brief, false dawn.

Donald Macleod focuses on Bacewicz's music in the years after World War II.

2015

Opening The Modernist Floodgates

20150528

Nikita Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin in 1956 had an almost immediate liberalising effect on Polish culture. The first Warsaw Autumn festival that followed opened the modernist floodgates, introducing to Polish audiences a raft of previously proscribed composers. Donald Macleod is joined by Polish music expert Adrian Thomas to explore this period in the life and music of Grazyna Bacewicz.

Donald Macleod describes the effect on Bacewicz of changes in Poland after Stalin's death.

2015

05 LAST

Woodworm Don't Like Your Music

20150529

Donald Macleod discusses Bacewicz's final years.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2015	01	An Unseen Little Engine	20150525	Grazyna Bacewicz packed a lot into her relatively short life. She began to write music at the age of 13 and by the time of her death at the age of 59 in 1969, she left behind a legacy of over two hundred compositions, including symphonies, concertos and other works for orchestra, string quartets and sonatas. In today's programme Donald Macleod explores Bacewicz's early years, with the help of Polish music expert Adrian Thomas. Donald Macleod and Polish music expert Adrian Thomas explore Bacewicz's early years.
2015	02	A Mood Of Determined Resistance	20150526	In the company of Polish music expert Adrian Thomas, Donald Macleod explores the music of Grazyna Bacewicz during the years of World War II, including her Overture from 1943, which she begins with timpani, beating out the Morse code 'V' for victory which the BBC used throughout the war - borrowed from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony - as the Victory call sign. Donald Macleod focuses on Bacewicz's music written during the years of World War Two.
2015	03	A False Dawn	20150527	Donald Macleod and his guest, the Polish music expert Adrian Thomas, explore the music of Grazyna Bacewicz in the years after World War II when, before Polish musicians and composers found themselves subject to the diktats of a new totalitarian regime under the Soviets, there was a brief, false dawn. Donald Macleod focuses on Bacewicz's music in the years after World War II.
2015	04	Opening The Modernist Floodgates	20150528	Nikita Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin in 1956 had an almost immediate liberalising effect on Polish culture. The first Warsaw Autumn festival that followed opened the modernist floodgates, introducing to Polish audiences a raft of previously proscribed composers. Donald Macleod is joined by Polish music expert Adrian Thomas to explore this period in the life and music of Grazyna Bacewicz. Donald Macleod describes the effect on Bacewicz of changes in Poland after Stalin's death.
2015	05 LAST	Woodworm Don't Like Your Music	20150529	Donald Macleod discusses Bacewicz's final years.