Tomasz Kulikowski was born in 1957 in Wrocław. In 1976 he graduated in organ from the Secondary Music School under professor Klemens Kamiński

and in the same year started studies in composition under professor Tadeusz Natanson at the State Higher Music School in Wrocław, which he graduated from in 1981. Then he worked in the Secondary Music Schools in Legnica and Wrocław, as a accompanist in the Youth Centre of Culture Wrocław-Krzyki and as an organist. Since 1989 he has been a lecturer at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. Tomasz Kulikowski’s interest in polyphonic music has a significant influence on the texture of his works – a specific kind of stylistic idiom is created. The musical language undergoes slow changes – from German constructivism (J.S. Bach, J. Brahms, M. Reger, P. Hindemith, A. Berg) to Romance freedom in shaping the sound matter (C. Debussy, M. Ravel, G. Fauré, F. Poulenc, O. Messiaen). Most of his works are chamber and organ compositions. Among orchestral works there are: a pastiche Suita Mikołajowa [Nicolas’ Suite] (1996), Capriccio for orchestra (1999), Concerto for harpsichord and chamber orchestra (2003), Poem for piano and orchestra (2011) and Jesienna opowieść [Autumn story] for chamber orchestra (2014). Tomasz Kulikowski is also the author of papers on modal harmony, the style of liturgical accompaniment and the possibility of using modern composer’s techniques in this kind of accompaniment.

Sonata for recorder and harpsichord was composed in 2003 and was intended for particular performers: T. Dobrzański and A. Rupocińska. It was premiered in December 2003 at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław during the 1692 Musical Tuesday. The form of the work corresponds to the baroque sonata da chiesa: Adagio, Allegro, Andante, Presto. The first three movements are developed sequentially in term of both musical elements and texture. The last movement is a fugue.

Senne róże [Sleepy roses] is a cycle of four songs composed in 2006 to the words of the poets of the Young Poland movement: J. Tarnawa-Czaplicka (Senne róże [Sleepy roses]), Z. Różycki (¬Bzy [Lilac bushes]) and B. Ostrowska (Nieśmiertelniki [Xeranthemum], Storczyki [Orchids]. It was dedicated to professor Maria Zduniak, a distinguished researcher and promoter of Silesian musical culture. It was premiered at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław during the Musical Tuesday composer’s concert in 2007.

Trzy medytacje [Three meditations] for cello and piano was composed in 2011 and intended for the following performers: L. Grzanka-Urbaniak and A. Gągola. It consists of three separate pieces which do not make up a cycle. They were premiered during the composer’s concert in November 2014. The concert was held at the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music as part of the series Polish Music.

Suite for reed trio was composed in 2006 and originally intended for two oboes and bassoon with the possibility of exchanging the second oboe for a clarinet. The work has not been performed during a concert yet. It consists of six movements (Toccata, Melodia [Melody], Intermezzo, Organum, Fugue) in which some archaizing elements were used.

Text: Agnieszka Zwierzycka

 

 T. Kulikowski: Sonata for recorder and harpsichord, Allegro   
 T. Kulikowski: Senne róże, Bzy  
 T. Kulikowski: Three meditations, part III
 T. Kulikowski: Suite for reed trio, part VI Fugue