Great Polish Composers of 20th Century

Hi ! Today's Post is related with Music . Music is the most beautiful expression of human emotions that it can move you so deeply. It doesn't know the language but something that can touch your heart so deeply and can take you in a most peaceful world. The sweetest melody has the power to change your mind and soul. There is nothing beautiful in the world than the music which your ears want to listen again and again. The stamps shown here portray the greatest composers of all time . The stamps were issued by Poland on 18th October 2008.The 20th century was a time of significant change not only in science and technology, but also arts, including music. For composers it represented an age of intense searching, experimenting, discovering new composing techniques and creating innovative sound systems (e.g. dodecaphonics). Among others, mathematics and chance (such as is applied in the so-called aleatoric music) were the composer's tools of work and the range of available sounds was broadened through unconventional use of musical instruments (e.g. sonorosm), the employment of recorded background sounds (concrete music) or the introduction of electronic music. Musical notation also evolved, resulting in an abandonment of the traditional use of notes. The 20th century music is an enormous versatility of directions, rich in outstanding personalities such as the Polish composers presented on the postage stamps.The work of these composers represents a model for the next generations to follow. Apart from photographic portraits, the stamps also contain the artists' handwritten signatures.In our regular series FDCs of se-tenant stamps from the album of Mr. Shrikant Parikh.This is all for Today !..... Till Next Post ...Have a Great Time !....

Great Polish Composers of the 20th century

Mieczysław Karłowicz (1876-1909) - born in the area of Vilnius, he received training in the violin, the grand piano, and the concertina in Warsaw, and studied composing in Berlin. His style was characterised by nostalgia, and even sadness, contradicting his rich instrumentation, typical of the last decade of the 19th century Polish arts. At first he used to compose songs, which he later abandoned completely for the sake of orchestral works. He took part in the works of the Warsaw Music Society board in an attempt to promote Polish contemporary music in the repertoire of the philharmonic. In 1907 he settled in the city of Zakopane. A solitary person that he was, mountains were his passion, and he photographed them during his many journeys. Sadly, he never returned from one of them, buried by an avalanche.

Witold Lutosławski (1913-1994) - an alumnus of the Warsaw Conservatoire. Apart from training in the grand piano and the violin as well as in the art of composing, he also studied mathematics. During the war he earned a living playing for the entertainment of cafe guests together with A. Panufnik. A versatile artist, he ventured beyond classical music and composed works for the radio, the theatre, and even songs, including those for children (e.g. for the writings of J. Tuwim). His innovative style is characterised by creativity, but at the same time by precision. He experimented with numerous different methods such as aleatorism, and conducted the performance of his own works on many occasions. He was presented with numerous national and international awards.


Wojciech Kilar (born in 1932 in Lviv) - having finished his studies in Katowice, he had an opportunity to go on a scholarship to Paris, where he was trained under the guidance of Nadia Boulanger. In the 1950s and the 1960s, he wrote avant-garde music, but since the 1970s he has begun seeking inspiration in religious and folk traditions. His expressive works are still known to a wide audience today, mostly owing to more than 100 compositions for films such as "Ziemia obiecana" (1974), "Drakula" (1992), "Pan Tadeusz" (1999), "Pianista" (2001).

Henryk Mikołaj Górecki (born in 1933) - a student, and subsequently tutor, at the Katowice Music Academy (PWSM Katowice). At first he used to employ novel composition techniques, mostly sonorism. His works appear simplified due to the use of repetitions, series, and symmetrical structures. Gradually, the composer begun to make use of tradition, and introduce citations and stylisation. An album published in 1992, containing his 3rd Symphony which had been composed 16 years before, was an international success and went to the very top of the charts.
Courtesy - Polish Post

A Journey to Indian Stamps - FDCs of se-tenant stamps

From Collection of Shrikant Parikh

President's Fleet Review ( Normal Size ) - 12 February 2006

President's Fleet Review ( Bigger Size-1)

President's Fleet Review ( Bigger Size-2 )

India-Cyprus Joint Issue - 12 April 2006

Note the varieties in Se-tenants on FDCs . These add colours to the collection.