Wojciech Kilar was a renowned Polish composer of classical music and film scores born on July 17, 1932, in Lwów, Poland (now Lviv, Ukraine), and who passed away on December 29, 2013, in Katowice, Poland. Known for his minimalistic yet expressive style, Kilar spent most of his life in Poland, where he became a pillar of contemporary classical music and a treasured cinematic composer both domestically and internationally.

Kilar's work spans a wide range of genres, but he is particularly acclaimed for his contributions to film music, crafting scores for over 130 films. His compositions often combine simplicity of form and a deep emotional undercurrent, which can be heard in his scores for acclaimed directors such as Roman Polanski, Krzysztof Kieślowski, and Francis Ford Coppola. One of Kilar's most famous film scores includes the hauntingly beautiful music for "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992), which garnered him significant international attention. In addition to his cinematic achievements, Kilar was also a prolific concert music composer, with compositions including "Orawa," "Missa pro pace," and his Symphony No. 5 "Adwentowa." His music has been emblematic of Polish national identity and often incorporates elements of local folk traditions alongside religious and historical themes. His legacy is inextricably linked to the cultural fabric of Poland and the broader landscape of 20th-century classical and film music.

Genres

Polish Contemporary Classical

Related Artists

Krzysztof Penderecki

Arvo Pärt

Zbigniew Preisner

Philip Glass

John Tavener

György Ligeti

Howard Shore

Ennio Morricone

Rafał Blechacz

Karol Szymanowski

Henryk Górecki

Olivier Messiaen

Latest Release

Kilar: Orawa

Wojciech Kilar

Single - Released September 22, 2023