Aleksandra Gryka


Aleksandra Gryka is a Polish classical composer of experimental music. Her works have been performed at such festivals as the Warsaw Autumn, Sacrum Profanum and Juilliard Focus! Festival.

Early life and education

Aleksandra Gryka was born on 17 May 1977, in Warsaw. She started learning to play the piano at the age of six. In 2003, she graduated with honors in composition under the supervision of Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar and computer composition under Magdalena Długosz at the Academy of Music in Kraków. During her studies, she also took composition courses in Kraków, Helsinki, Buckow and Reichenau.

Career

Her work is characterized as uncompromising and experimental. Although the structure of her works stems from modernist traditions, what is most important to her is originality and timbre. Gryka writes pieces for instruments, although she also explores electronic music. She draws inspiration from various sources, including the works of Iannis Xenakis, Frédéric Chopin and Gérard Grisey. She feels drawn to spectralism and sonorism.
Gryka's compositions have been performed, among others, in Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy and the United States. Her works could be heard at such festivals, as the Warsaw Autumn, Sacrum Profanum and Juilliard Focus! Festival. Gryka's work has appeared in the repertoire of, among others, an_ARCHE new music ensemble and Kwadrofonik. In 2005, she started composing music for theater performances. In 2006, the futuristic ballet Alpha Kryonia xe by choreographer Jacek Przybyłowicz was staged at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw, to which Gryka composed music. The piece was inspired by the works of Stanisław Lem.

Works

For D. for piano solo, 1999LIEN-AL for cello, harpsichord and accordion, 2000High3bbingNor. for symphony orchestra, 2000Interioryzacion for computer, 2000OXYGEN nr.369,1 for tape and piano, 2001NonStopping center for harpsichord solo, 2001exists as… for flute, accordion, piano, 3 percussions and cello, 2001Project ien for tape, video and dancer, 2002JaIchIJe for string quartet and marimba, 2002Interialcell for instrumental ensemble, 2003Alpha Kryonia XE ballet, 2003eSU for tape and video elements, 2004konstrunity 0100 for 12 voices, 2004Tii for soprano and instrumental ensemble from opera saga Komander Kobayashi, 2004–2005ambeoidal MTOCSs for clarinet, marimba, piano, violin, tape and video, 2005NTvacou for contrabass recorder, harpsichord, violin and cello, 2006SCREAM YOU, opera from the Kommander Kobayashi II project, 2006Youmec for harpsichord and tape, 2006e for cello, 2007BAe 146 OY-CRG.Sylar for instrumental ensemble, 2007NEI for violin, tape and video, 2008SCREEM QUEEN opera, developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT, 2008t.Aamiper for orchestra, trumpet solo and electronics, 2009The LighetM for string quartet, 2009Erschöpfung opera, developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT, 2010Glück opera, developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT, 2011einerjedeneither for orchestra, 2011observerobserver for Paetzold flute, double-bass flute and video, 201210,12,13,-31 for string quartet, 2012das Schloss opera, developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT, 2013Der Sieg Uber die Sonne opera, developed in collaboration with NOVOFLOT, 2013A.CELLfalserator for 2 pianos, 2013W.ALTER’s for mezzo-soprano, 2 pianos, 2 percussionists and electronics, 2014|H_He| for choir, multipercussion and electronics, 2014mutedisorder quartet for clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, piano and percussion instruments, 2015emptyloop for string quartet, 2020PLASTIC for electronics/samples, 2021

Awards and nominations