Maciejewski, Roman

Maciejewski, Roman, Polish-American pianist, organist, choral conductor, and composer; b. Berlin (of Polish parents), Feb. 28, 1910; d. Göteborg, April 30, 1998. His mother taught him to play piano at an early age. He then took lessons with Goldenweiser at the Berlin Cons. (1916–19) and with Zeleski at the Poznan Cons, (diploma, 1922), and also studied composition with Wiechowicz in Poznan and with Sikorski at the Warsaw Cons. He went to Paris in 1934, and studied with Boulanger; then lived in Sweden (1939–51). In 1952 he emigrated to the U.S., settling in Redondo Beach, Calif., as a church organist and director of the Roman Choir. In 1977 he returned to Sweden. Maciejewski excelled in writing lush, resonant, protracted choruses in self-confident tonal harmonies.

Works

orch.: Allegro concertante for Piano and Orch. (1944; Göteborg, Jan. 11, 1945); Lullaby for Piano and Orch. (1944); Scenes from the Seaside for Small Orch. (1972). chamber: Brass Quartet (1937); String Quartet (1938); Violin Sonata (1940); String Trio (1948); Nocturne for Flute, Celesta, and Guitar (1951); Variations for Wind Quintet (1971).piano: 2 sonatas (1926, 1932); Mazurkas (1928–90); Bajka (Fairy Tale), children’s ballet for 2 Pianos (1931); Concerto for 2 Solo Pianos (1935). vocal:Song ofBilitis for Soprano and Orch. (1932); Requiem for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1944–60; Warsaw, Sept. 1960); Resurrection Mass for Chorus and Organ (1966); masses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire