Kamienski, Maciej

views updated

Kamieński, Maciej

Kamieński, Maciej, significant Polish composer of Slovak descent; b. probably in Sopron or Magyar-Ovar, between Hungary and Slovakia, Oct. 13, 1734; d. Warsaw, Jan. 25, 1821. He studied composition in Vienna, then settled in Warsaw as a teacher, and brought out the first Polish opera to be premiered in a public theater, Nedza uszcześliwiona (Poverty Made Happy; July 11, 1778). After its success, he wrote 7 more operas, only 2 of which are extant.He also composed a cantata for the unveiling of the Sobieski monument (Warsaw, Sept. 14, 1788). His other works include masses, offertories, and piano pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire