Piotr Rubik

Piotr Rubik (2007)

Piotr Rubik (born September 3, 1968 in Warsaw ) is a Polish composer for pop , film and theater music and a cellist .

Life

Rubik began playing the cello at the age of seven , went to secondary school and studied cello at the Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy (now Fryderyk Chopin University of Music ) in Warsaw after graduating from high school . He later became a member of the world-class orchestra Jeunesses Musicales International and studied composition (film music) with Ennio Morricone in Siena , Italy.

Piotr Rubik has produced music albums for a number of Polish artists, e. B. Tytus Wojnowicz , Małgorzata Walewska , Katarzyna Skrzynecka , Michał Bajor and Georgina Tarasiuk . For Edyta Górniak he produced the single Dotyk ("Touch"). He also created film music for various TV programs. His most popular film songs are Niech mówią że to nie jest miłość (“Let them say it's not love”), Psalm dla Ciebie (“Psalm for You”), Most Dwojga Serc (“Bridge of Two Hearts”), Nie Wstydź się mówić że kochasz (“Don't be afraid to say that you love”) and Miłość cierpliwa jest, lecz i nie cierpliwa (“Love is patient, yet impatient”). In 2001 he composed the promotional song Dove vai? the remake of Quo Vadis by Jerzy Kawalerowicz . Since September 2007 Rubik has performed several times in the USA. From October to November 2010 the composer and conductor went on a USA / Canada tour for 17 concerts.

Piotr Rubik has been married to the Polish model Agata Paskudzka since June 2008 . In May 2009 their daughter Helena was born.

Works (selection)

Oratorios

His most important masterpiece so far is part II of the oratorio trilogy Tryptyk Świętokrzyski (“The Triptych of the Holy Cross”), which he composed for the libretto by Zbigniew Książek. It is called Tu Es Petrus and was composed or published in memory of Pope John Paul II in 2005, the year of his death.

Oratorio Trilogy Tryptyk Świętokrzyski ("The Triptych of the Holy Cross")

I Świętokrzyska Golgota

Świętokrzyska Golgota ("Holy Cross of Golgotha") is an oratorio of the oratorio trilogy Tryptyk Świętokrzyski ("The Triptych of the Holy Cross"), based on the life of Jesus Christ as it is transmitted through the Bible . The title refers to the way Jesus died by crucifixion on the hill of Golgotha at the gates of Jerusalem. The oratorio follows the Passion of Jesus, although the prologue was originally intended for the Polish film Quo Vadis . It premiered on April 6, 2004 in Kielce Cathedral , Poland.

II do it Peter

Tu Es Petrus ("You are Petrus") is an oratorio of the oratorio trilogy Tryptyk Świętokrzyski ("The Triptych of the Holy Cross"), which was created in 2005 as a tribute and birthday present for Pope John Paul II . Unfortunately, the Pope died before completion. Rubik later called this oratorio “ Epitaph for John Paul II.” The title of the oratorio refers to Matthew 16.18 , a statement according to which Catholics believe that Simon Peter was head of the church (and in a broader sense Peter’s successor) with the Authority made by Jesus Christ. Tu Es Petrus was premiered on July 2, 2005 and is Piotr Rubik's most important masterpiece to date. During the following years it was performed across Poland, as well as in Canadian and US cities with high proportions of Polish populations.

The oratorio is partly based on writings by Pope John Paul II, in particular his poems, B. in the songs Zdumienie ("miracle") and Strumień ("electricity"). It consists of three parts, each looking at the mystery of creation, the mystery of the cross and the mystery of love; three subjects on which the Pope wrote repeatedly during his 26-year pontificate. Each oratorio part contains four songs and a “litany” as well as an “intermezzo” piece, the whole oratorio is framed by a prologue and epilogue entitled Tu Es Petrus , the only two songs that are addressed directly to Pope John Paul II . The song Niech mówią, że to nie jest miłość (“Let them say that it's not love”) from the oratorio was a constant hit on Polskie Radio . A music video with Rubik and his soloists was shot for this song and broadcast on Telewizja Polska .

III Psałterz Wrześniowy

Psałterz Wrześniowy ("The September Psalter") is an oratorio of the oratorio trilogy Tryptyk Świętokrzyski ("The Triptych of the Holy Cross"), which is inspired by the Book of Psalms and looks at its relevance today. Said "September" are September 11, 2001 and September 1, 1939 , when the Nazis invaded Poland; an artistic means of creation, referring to the forces of evil that strike whenever and wherever. Against the background of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the oratorio was also premiered on September 11th, 2006 in Kielce . Rubik toured Poland and North America again with this work.

Despite the subject of the action that the oratorio's title suggests, there remains an opinion on the triumph of the human spirit over tyranny and evil. The oratorio delves deeply into Christian tradition and its texts. It is divided into four parts: the confessional psalms with songs referring to the Apostles' Creed , Adam and Eve , Abraham and Moses ; the angelic psalms speaking of the heavenly protectors; the Psalms of Penance, ranging from subjects of penance to victory over suffering; and Die Liebespsalme , a series of love songs including the popular hit Psalm dla Ciebie (“Psalm for you”).

Habitat

Based on the success of his cantata Zakochani w Krakowie (2007), Rubik wrote a new oratorio with the incomprehensibly long title Oratorium dla Świata, część I: Habitat, moje miejsce na ziemi (“Oratorio for the world, part I: Habitat, my place on earth"). With six new, younger soloists in the lead roles, Habitat premiered in December 2007 with a decisive new twist: the addition of a DJ and beatboxer to Rubik's traditional 100-man symphony orchestra and 120-man choir. Habitat turned out to be more successful than classical music (although Rubik made the lines between pop and classical music less and less clear) with the addition of some innovations, e.g. B. in Most Dwojga Serc ("The Bridge Between Hearts"), a piece in which the composer and conductor plays and sings himself. Other notable characteristics include the gospelesque choir Serce Dzwonu ("The Heart of the Bell") with its resounding refrain Gloria, Gloria , also the theatrical Katedra ("Cathedral"); the children's song Schody donikąd ("The Hopeless Staircase") and the beatboxing in the epilogue of the oratorio.

Habitat is another statement on human society, on the growing need for peace in a disturbed world and on harmony among peoples. Each song is subtitled with a phrase or a word such as “peace”, “faith”, “neighbor”, “tolerance” etc. The oratorio text was written by the Polish writer Roman Kołakowski .

Santo Subito: Cantobiografia Jana Pawła II

In October 2009, the oratorio Santo Subito , Rubik's masterpiece on the biography of John Paul II, premiered. Jacek Cygan wrote the libretto for this work . The action begins with the song Lolek , with Wojtyła's childhood in Wadowice , then continues with his love for the theater, his priesthood and his pontificate. Many of the lyrics in Santo Subito contain diverse facts and interesting information regarding the culture and life of the Pope.

At Santo Subito , Zofia Nowakowska , Anna Józefina Lubieniecka, Marta Moszczyńska, Grzegorz Wilk, Michał Gasz and Michał Bogdanowicz will sing in the leading roles . The soloist Ewa Prus replaced Anna Józefina Lubieniecka in May 2010.

Rock opera

Opisanie Świata

It was November 8, 2011 when Piotr Rubik presented his first rock opera, Opisanie Świata . Zbigniew Ksiązek wrote the libretto again . Similar to the oratorio Habitat , love is also a central theme here. The orchestral line-up includes drums and electric guitars, unlike any of his other compositions. Zofia Nowakowska , Grzegorz Wilk, Marta Moszczyńska, Michał Gasz and Ewa Prus will sing the leading roles .

Cantatas

Zakochani w Krakowie

In 2007 Piotr Rubik worked again with Zbigniew Książek and wrote a cantata for choir and orchestra for the 750th birthday of Krakow with the title Zakochani w Krakowie (“In love with Krakow”). It proved to be very popular with the Krakow people, who asked for multiple encores at the premiere on June 1, 2007 on the Krakow Market Square.

Zakochani w Krakowie follows the history of the city of Krakow, from the establishment in 1257 by King Bolesław V to the present day, from the Polish heroes, from the artist Veit Stoss to Pope John Paul II, as well as the historically significant places of Krakow such as the Wawel Cathedral and his Sigismund bell .

Effect and success

Some claim that Rubik's oeuvre is classical, although some point out that he is very active in the world of popular mass media and that his music is more pop music with sacred elements arranged for orchestra. Unlike many composers who think classically, Piotr Rubik often gives interviews to the mass media and produces music videos for his compositions for them. The applause for him is very warm. The CD recordings of his oratorios have been awarded platinum several times in Poland and are among the best-selling CDs in Poland in recent years.

However, some music critics in Poland believe that his work is amateurish and banal, especially after the completion of Zakochani w Krakowie . Stanisław Krawczyński, director of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, said it was a scandal that his Music University commissioned Rubik to write a composition for the opening celebrations of Kraków's 750th birthday. Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar also sees him as an amateur, and the Krakow filmmaker Artur Więcek rhetorically asked taxpayers why they paid any money for Rubik's “pseudo-religious” music at the festival at all.

Discography

Albums

• 2004: Oratorio Świętokrzyska Golgota (PL: platinum)
• 2005: Oratorio Tu Es Petrus - Ty Jesteś Skała (PL:diamond)
• 2006: Rubicon (PL:× 3Triple platinum )
• 2006: Oratorio Psałterz Wrześniowy (PL:× 2Double diamond )
• 2007: Cantata Zakochani w Krakowie
• 2007: Oratory Dla Śwtata - Habitat Cz.1 (PL:× 2Double platinum )
• 2009: Santo subito - Cantobiografia Jana Pawła II (PL:platinum)
• 2011: Opisanie Świata (PL:gold)

Web links

• Website of Piotr Rubik

Individual evidence

1. ^ Piotr Rubik to amator ( Memento of December 4, 2007 in the Internet Archive ). In: Interia.pl. January 8, 2007.
2. ↑ Awards for music sales: PL