Those of us musicians who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s held the great composer Krzysztof Penderecki in the very high esteem reserved in the twentieth century for a few very special composers like Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg. We eagerly listened to and studied his groundbreaking works such as the Threnody to Victims of Hiroshima.
I was already thrilled to be a member of the Oregon Bach Festival orchestra in the 1980s as a clarinetist and orchestra manager. So when Helmuth Rilling and Royce Saltzman initiated a long and fruitful collaboration with Penderecki in 1988, with the composer conducting his Polish Requiem, it felt like I was allowed to visit a very special part of musical heaven.
Over the years with OBF, I played many works with Penderecki as composer, conductor, or both, and worked with him as an administrator. I remember asking him about the tempo of the long clarinet solo in Credo, and his self-effacing answer “Oh, don’t ask me—composers are often the worst at setting tempos in their music. Just play what you think is right.” I loved hearing from him about his deep interest and love of trees and how he cultivated them in an arboretum on his estate. I laughed with the whole orchestra and chorus when he instructed us to play an energetic section of music “con Viagra!” Once, during the Festival in the 90s, I was having dinner in a nice local restaurant with my friend and colleague Todd Kuhns, and at the end of the dinner I asked for the check. The waiter told me that the bill was already paid by the gentleman across the restaurant. Smiling and waving at us across the way was our esteemed guest conductor Krzysztof Penderecki.
R. I. P. Krzysztof Penderecki. You are a great composer and a great human being. We are lucky to have known you. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.
Michael Anderson
OBF Principal Clarinet, 1988 – 2007
Director of Artistic Administration
Jerry Wood I was fortunate to be at the 1988 OBF as a participant as a conducting major. That spring the conducting class studied the Polish Requiem, and we were all so excited to meet Perderecki. I remember the first comment we made to each other at the first rehearsal is “He conducts with his left hand!” What a wonderful experience!!
Marcella Becker What a wonderful tribute, great text. The Requiem has made a lasting impression on me – I was fortunate enough to be able to sit in a few of the rehearsals and then get an affordable student ticket for the performance. One of the performances over my life that I do recall quite clearly.
Marcella Becker I saw an article about his passing a few days ago. Remembered the Polish Requiem at the Bach Festival in Eugene, I believe it was 1988. At that time it was possible for students to attend some of the rehearsals and tickets for students for the performance were quite affordable. A massive, majestic, impressive piece. I listened to it two days ago in memoriam of Penderecki. Love a lot of his other works, too.
Irene Weldon I was there singing one of his works in 1989 or 90 but cannot recall which one.
Jill Overley What a lovely eulogy and part of OBF history!