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Wojciech Kilar is a Musical, Sound and Compositor Polonais born on 17 july 1932 at Lviv (Ukraine)
Wojciech Kilar ([ˈvɔjt͡ɕex kilar] (pronounced phonetically: Voy-cheh Kee-lahr); born 17 July 1932) is a Polish classical and film music composer.
Education
Kilar studied at some of Poland's finest music academies, including the State Higher School of Music in Katowice, under the composer and pianist Władysława Markiewiczówna, graduating with top honors in 1955. He continued his post-graduate studies at the State Higher School of Music in Kraków from 1955 to 1958 under composer and pianist Bolesław Woytowicz. In 1957 he participated in the International New Music Summer Course in Darmstadt. Kilar expanded on his musical education in Paris in 1959-60, when a scholarship from the French government allowed him to study composition under Nadia Boulanger.
Music career
Wojciech Kilar belonged (together with Bolesław Szabelski, his student Henryk Górecki and Krzysztof Penderecki) to the Polish Avant-garde music movement of the Sixties. In 1977 Kilar was one of the founding members of the Karol Szymanowski Society, based in the mountain town of Zakopane. Kilar chaired the Katowice chapter of the Association of Polish Composers for many years and from 1979-81 was vice chair of this association's national board. He was also a member of the Repertoire Committee for the "Warsaw Autumn" International Festival of Contemporary Music. In 1991 Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Zanussi made a biographical film about the composer titled Wojciech Kilar.
Having received critical success as a classical composer, Kilar scored his first domestic film in 1959, and has since gone on to write music from some of Poland's most acclaimed directors, including Krzysztof Kieślowski, Krzysztof Zanussi, Kazimierz Kutz and Andrzej Wajda. He worked on over 100 titles in his home country, including internationally recognised titles such as Bilans Kwartalny (1975), Spirala (1978), Constans (1980), Imperativ (1982), Rok Spokojnego Słońca (1984), and Życie za Życie (1991), plus several others in France and across other parts of Europe. He made his English-language debut with Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Dracula. His other English language features — Roman Polanski's trio Death and the Maiden (1994), The Ninth Gate (1999) and The Pianist (2002), and Jane Campion's The Portrait of a Lady (1996) — were typified by his trademark grinding basses and cellos, deeply romantic themes and minimalist chord progressions.
In addition to his film work, Kilar continues to write and publish purely classical works, which have included a horn sonata, a piece for a wind quintet, several pieces for chamber orchestra and choir, the acclaimed Baltic Canticles, the epic Exodus (famous as the trailer music from Schindler's List), a Concerto for Piano and Orchestra dedicated to Peter Jablonski, and his major work, the “September Symphony” (2003).
Having abandoned Avant-garde music technical means almost entirely, he continues to employ a simplified musical language, in which sizable masses of sound serve as a backdrop for highlighted melodies. This occurs in those compositions that reference folk music (especially Polish Highlander Gorals folk melodies) and in patriotic and religious pieces.
(1998)
(Original Music Composer)
(1992)
(Orchestrator)
(2002)
(Original Music Composer)
(1999)
(Original Music Composer)
(2009)
(Music)
(1980)
(Sound)
Source : Wikidata
Wojciech Kilar
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Birth name Wojciech Kilar
Nationality Pologne
Birth 17 july 1932 at Lviv (Ukraine)
Death 29 december 2013 (at 81 years) at Katowice (Pologne)
Awards Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, Legion of Honour, Medal for Merit to Culture, Order of the White Eagle, Louis Delluc Prize, César Award for Best Music Written for a Film, Lux ex Silesia, Polish Academy Award for Best Film Score
Nationality Pologne
Birth 17 july 1932 at Lviv (Ukraine)
Death 29 december 2013 (at 81 years) at Katowice (Pologne)
Awards Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, Legion of Honour, Medal for Merit to Culture, Order of the White Eagle, Louis Delluc Prize, César Award for Best Music Written for a Film, Lux ex Silesia, Polish Academy Award for Best Film Score
Wojciech Kilar ([ˈvɔjt͡ɕex kilar] (pronounced phonetically: Voy-cheh Kee-lahr); born 17 July 1932) is a Polish classical and film music composer.
Biography
Wojciech Kilar is one of Poland's most esteemed composers. He was born in 1932 in Lwów (since 1945 Lviv, Ukraine). His father was a gynecologist and his mother was a theater actress. Kilar has spent most of his life since 1948 in the city of Katowice in Southern Poland, married (from April 1966 to November 2007) to Barbara Pomianowska, a pianist. Kilar was 22 years old when he met 18 year old Barbara, his future wife.Education
Kilar studied at some of Poland's finest music academies, including the State Higher School of Music in Katowice, under the composer and pianist Władysława Markiewiczówna, graduating with top honors in 1955. He continued his post-graduate studies at the State Higher School of Music in Kraków from 1955 to 1958 under composer and pianist Bolesław Woytowicz. In 1957 he participated in the International New Music Summer Course in Darmstadt. Kilar expanded on his musical education in Paris in 1959-60, when a scholarship from the French government allowed him to study composition under Nadia Boulanger.
Music career
Wojciech Kilar belonged (together with Bolesław Szabelski, his student Henryk Górecki and Krzysztof Penderecki) to the Polish Avant-garde music movement of the Sixties. In 1977 Kilar was one of the founding members of the Karol Szymanowski Society, based in the mountain town of Zakopane. Kilar chaired the Katowice chapter of the Association of Polish Composers for many years and from 1979-81 was vice chair of this association's national board. He was also a member of the Repertoire Committee for the "Warsaw Autumn" International Festival of Contemporary Music. In 1991 Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Zanussi made a biographical film about the composer titled Wojciech Kilar.
Having received critical success as a classical composer, Kilar scored his first domestic film in 1959, and has since gone on to write music from some of Poland's most acclaimed directors, including Krzysztof Kieślowski, Krzysztof Zanussi, Kazimierz Kutz and Andrzej Wajda. He worked on over 100 titles in his home country, including internationally recognised titles such as Bilans Kwartalny (1975), Spirala (1978), Constans (1980), Imperativ (1982), Rok Spokojnego Słońca (1984), and Życie za Życie (1991), plus several others in France and across other parts of Europe. He made his English-language debut with Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Dracula. His other English language features — Roman Polanski's trio Death and the Maiden (1994), The Ninth Gate (1999) and The Pianist (2002), and Jane Campion's The Portrait of a Lady (1996) — were typified by his trademark grinding basses and cellos, deeply romantic themes and minimalist chord progressions.
In addition to his film work, Kilar continues to write and publish purely classical works, which have included a horn sonata, a piece for a wind quintet, several pieces for chamber orchestra and choir, the acclaimed Baltic Canticles, the epic Exodus (famous as the trailer music from Schindler's List), a Concerto for Piano and Orchestra dedicated to Peter Jablonski, and his major work, the “September Symphony” (2003).
Having abandoned Avant-garde music technical means almost entirely, he continues to employ a simplified musical language, in which sizable masses of sound serve as a backdrop for highlighted melodies. This occurs in those compositions that reference folk music (especially Polish Highlander Gorals folk melodies) and in patriotic and religious pieces.
Best films
(1998)(Original Music Composer)
(1992)(Orchestrator)
(2002)(Original Music Composer)
(1999)(Original Music Composer)
(2009)(Music)
(1980)(Sound)
Usually with
Filmography of Wojciech Kilar (53 films)
Scriptwriter
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Turning Table (1988)
, 1h18Directed by Jacques Demy, Paul Grimault
Origin France
Genres Documentary, Animation
Actors Anouk Aimée, Mathieu Demy, Paul Grimault, Pierre Tchernia
Roles Musical
Rating70%
Un petit clown très curieux au corps en accordéon (qui figurait déjà dans une scène du Roi et l'Oiseau) s'échappe de la poche de Paul Grimault. Le cinéaste lui présente les personnages de ses courts-métrages. Les courts métrages présentés sont les suivants :
Sound
Welcome (2009)
Directed by Philippe Lioret
Origin France
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Films about alcoholism, Films about immigration, Sports films, Transport films, La précarité, Trucker films, L'émigration
Actors Vincent Lindon, Olivier Rabourdin, Audrey Dana, Yannick Renier, Thierry Godard, Behi Djanati Ataï
Roles Music
Rating74%
The film tells the story of Simon Calmat (Vincent Lindon), a French swimming coach who is divorcing his wife Marion (Audrey Dana). Simon tries to help a young Iraqi-Kurd immigrant, Bilal Kayani (Firat Ayverdi), whose dream is to cross the English Channel from Calais in France to the United Kingdom by any means possible to be reunited with his girlfriend Mina (Derya Ayverdi). Meanwhile, Mina's father strongly opposes Bilal's plans as he wants to marry his daughter to her cousin who owns a restaurant. After being caught with other immigrants and returned to France, Simon gives him temporary refuge at his home after the young Bilal, nicknamed "Bazda" (runner, for his athletic abilities and love of football and Manchester United in particular) registers for swimming lessons, intending to train to be able to swim across the Channel. After police search Simon's apartment, Bilal goes on a final attempt and drowns 800 meters from the English coast while hiding from the coastguard. Simon then travels to inform Mina.
We Own the Night (2007)
, 1h57Directed by James Gray
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Crime
Themes Films about sexuality, Films about suicide, Erotic films, Gangster films
Actors Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Robert Duvall, Alex Veadov, Danny Hoch
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating67%
In 1988 in Brooklyn, New York, Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix) is the manager of the successful El Caribe nightclub in Brighton Beach that is frequented by Russian black market gangster and drug lord Vadim Nezhinski (Alex Veadov), and owned by Marat Buzhayev, Vadim's uncle and Bobby's boss.
Dustclouds (2007)
, 2h22Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Irina Björklund
Rating78%
Dustclouds is an epic fever-dream, chronicling a long night’s journey into day. As his wedding carriage rides beneath a starlit night, Getz (Wesley Walker) vows to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Having worked his whole life, he has finally married. Yet as he lies in his bride’s embrace, Getz already starts to question his happiness. Deep within, he yearns for “the perfect,” which puts strain on his marriage. As the night progresses, inner turmoil unravels the fabric of Getz’s being. Years begin to pass like seconds. Time, identity and purpose become unstuck. And a great sadness is borne into his life. Getz longs for answers, but is terrified by what he could lose in his search for truth. What follows is a quest deep into his heart of darkness.
Black Sun (2007)
Directed by Krzysztof Zanussi
Genres Drama
Actors Valeria Golino, Lorenzo Balducci, Toni Bertorelli, Remo Girone
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating55%
Après l'assassinat de son mari, une femme décide de retrouver le meurtrier et tente d'approcher les suspects.
The Pianist (2002)
, 2h24Directed by Roman Polanski
Origin France
Genres Drama, War, Biography, Historical, Musical
Themes French war films, Films about music and musicians, Politique, Films about religion, Films about classical music and musicians, Musical films, Piano, Political films, Films about Jews and Judaism
Actors Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Michał Żebrowski
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating84%
In September 1939, Władysław Szpilman (Adrien Brody), a Polish-Jewish pianist, is playing live on the radio in Warsaw when the station is bombed during Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland which caused the outbreak of World War II. Hoping for a quick victory, Szpilman celebrates with his posh family at home when learning that Britain and France have declared war on Germany. German troops soon enter Warsaw and the Nazi authorities implement measures to identify, isolate, financially ruin and reduce the Jewish population in Warsaw. Jews are ordered to provide their own identifying armbands with the Star of David.
The Revenge (2002)
, 1h40Directed by Andrzej Wajda
Origin Pologne
Genres Comedy
Themes Théâtre, Films based on plays
Actors Roman Polanski, Janusz Gajos, Andrzej Seweryn, Katarzyna Figura, Daniel Olbrychski, Agata Buzek
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating56%
Raptusiewicz (Janusz Gajos) réside dans la moitié d'un château tandis que l'autre moitié est habitée par son rival détesté Rejent Milczek (Andrzej Seweryn). Raptusiewicz souhaite se marier avec Podstolina (Katarzyna Figura), la veuve de Lord High Steward, Podstolina cherchant un mari riche.
The Supplement (2002)
, 1h48Directed by Krzysztof Zanussi
Genres Drama
Actors Zbigniew Zapasiewicz, Szymon Bobrowski, Agata Buzek, Magdalena Walach, Redbad Klijnstra-Komarnicki
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating59%
, 1h36Directed by Krzysztof Zanussi
Origin Pologne
Genres Drama
Actors Zbigniew Zapasiewicz, Krystyna Janda, Jerzy Radziwiłowicz, Anna Mucha, Szymon Bobrowski, Redbad Klijnstra-Komarnicki
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating69%
Tomasz apprend qu'il a une maladie mortelle. Il demande son ex-femme Anna de financer son opération à Paris. Mais il est déjà trop tard pour guérir. Il n'est lui reste qu'attendre la mort et trouver quelqu'un qui aiderait de comprendre et accepter l'évanescence.
The Ninth Gate (1999)
, 2h13Directed by Roman Polanski
Origin Espagne
Genres Thriller, Fantastic, Horror, Crime
Themes Films about religion, Demons in film
Actors Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, Frank Langella, Emmanuelle Seigner, James Russo, Barbara Jefford
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating66%
Dean Corso (Johnny Depp), a New York City rare book dealer, makes his living conning people into selling him valuable antique books for a low price, and then selling them for profit. He meets with wealthy book collector Boris Balkan (Frank Langella), who has recently acquired a copy of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows by 17th-century author Aristide Torchia, one of only three copies known to exist. According to legend, the book is Torchia's adaptation of an older book written by the Devil himself and purportedly contains the means to ritualistically summon the Devil and, through him, acquire invincibility and immortality. Balkan believes two of the copies are forgeries. He hires Corso to authenticate all three copies, and acquire the legitimate copy by any means necessary.
Pan Tadeusz (1999)
, 2h27Directed by Andrzej Wajda
Genres Drama, War, Historical, Romance
Themes Histoire de France, Napoleonic Wars films
Actors Bogusław Linda, Alicja Bachleda-Curuś, Jerzy Bińczycki, Daniel Olbrychski, Grażyna Szapołowska, Andrzej Seweryn
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating60%
Pan Tadeusz is told in flashbacks as the author, Adam Mickiewicz, reads his work to a group of elderly exiles in Paris. The story takes place over the course of five days in 1811 and one day in 1812 in rolling landscapes of Lithuania inhabited by Poles whose homeland has been recently partitioned among Russia, the Austrian Empire and Prussia. Not far off in history looms Napoleon's invasion of Russia, the prospect of which heartens Poles yearning for liberation. But more immediately, the characters in Pan Tadeusz are feuding among themselves.
The Truman Show (1998)
, 1h43Directed by Peter Weir, David Cronenberg
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Social science fiction, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Comic science fiction
Themes Films about families, Films about television, Comedy science fiction films, La téléréalité, Dystopian films
Actors Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Ed Harris, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating81%
Truman Burbank is the unsuspecting star of The Truman Show, a reality television program in which his entire life, since before birth, is filmed by thousands of hidden cameras, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is broadcast live around the world. The show's creator and executive producer Christof is able to capture Truman's real emotion and human behavior when put in certain situations. Truman's coastal hometown of Seahaven is a giant set built under a giant arcological dome in the Los Angeles area. Truman's family and friends are all played by actors, allowing Christof to control every aspect of Truman's life.
The Portrait of a Lady (1996)
, 2h22Directed by Jane Campion
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Feminist films, Films about sexuality, Political films
Actors Nicole Kidman, John Malkovich, Barbara Hershey, Mary-Louise Parker, Martin Donovan, Valentina Cervi
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating61%
The film tells the story of Isabel Archer (Kidman), an innocent young woman of independent means who is manipulated by her "friend" Madame Merle (Hershey) and the devious Gilbert Osmond (Malkovich).
At Full Gallop (1996)
, 1h44Directed by Krzysztof Zanussi
Genres Drama, Comedy, Historical
Actors Maja Komorowska, Piotr Adamczyk, Stanisława Celińska, Agnieszka Warchulska, Jan Prochyra
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating65%
A young boy in post-World War II, Communist-dominated Poland, whose father's decision to remain in Britain after the war has made his family politically-suspect with the local Party authorities, is sent by his mother to stay with an "aunt" (in reality an old family friend) in the capital, Warsaw. Ida is a strong-willed, single, middle-aged woman who has found her own ways of surviving in the Communist-run society (which sometimes involves her charming powerful older men, as well as maintaining two different sets of identity papers). She gets Hubert admitted to one of the city's best schools by portraying him as the orphan of a war hero. But she also shares with him her own passion for horses, at a time when riding is seen by many officials as a relic of the old aristocratic class. Hubert himself, meanwhile, struggles to understand how it can be right for a good Catholic to lie in order to survive under Communism.
Fantôme avec chauffeur (1996)
, 1h18Directed by Gérard Oury
Origin France
Genres Comedy, Fantasy
Themes Ghost films
Actors Gérard Jugnot, Philippe Noiret, Jean-Luc Bideau, Charlotte Kady, Daniel Russo, Béatrice Agenin
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating50%
À Paris, un grand patron de la finance et son chauffeur sont tués. Alors que, vivants, ils n'avaient que des relations strictement professionnelles et hiérarchiques, leurs fantômes assistent le plus souvent ensemble aux conséquences de leurs modes de vie troublés.