Zbigniew Preisner
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Born in Poland in 1955, Zbigniew Preisner studied philosophy and
history in the university of Cracow. In his twenties he started to
study music in a autodidactical way: buying records and learning to
write by taking the music in parts. He started to write his own
compositions. His style has always been very romantic, influenced by
romantic polish composers from the XIX century and others like Paganini
or Sibelius. He has always emphasized the importance of melody in
music. He doesn't like experimental modern music.
In 1981 he began his collaboration with filmmakers. While he was
working with Antoni Krauze's movie "Weather Report" he met director
Krzystof Kieslowski who invited him to work in his new movie "No End"
about Poland under the martial law at the beginning of the 80s.
With that movie he began a very close collaboration with Kieslowski and
his screenwriter Krzystof Piesiewicz. He works while the script for the
movie is still being written but he usually also takes part in the
editing of the movie.
Their next collaboration became a success worldwide. "Decalogue" won
the European film award for best film and also awards in Cannes and
other festivals. Kieslowski became one of the most importants directors
in Europe and Preisner the leading film music composer of his
generation.
At the same time he continued his collaboration with Kieslowski in such
films like "La double vie de Veronique" and the trilogy of colours
("Blue", "White" and "Red") he also wrote soundtracks for others
important directors like Louis Malle, Agniezka Holland or Héctor
Babenco.
His collaboration with Kieslowski ended with his death in 1996. In the
last years Preisner not only has continued his collaboration in others
movies but he also has been involved in others musical projects like
the writing of an opera to be performed in London and features for the
Varsovia Simphony orchestra.
history in the university of Cracow. In his twenties he started to
study music in a autodidactical way: buying records and learning to
write by taking the music in parts. He started to write his own
compositions. His style has always been very romantic, influenced by
romantic polish composers from the XIX century and others like Paganini
or Sibelius. He has always emphasized the importance of melody in
music. He doesn't like experimental modern music.
In 1981 he began his collaboration with filmmakers. While he was
working with Antoni Krauze's movie "Weather Report" he met director
Krzystof Kieslowski who invited him to work in his new movie "No End"
about Poland under the martial law at the beginning of the 80s.
With that movie he began a very close collaboration with Kieslowski and
his screenwriter Krzystof Piesiewicz. He works while the script for the
movie is still being written but he usually also takes part in the
editing of the movie.
Their next collaboration became a success worldwide. "Decalogue" won
the European film award for best film and also awards in Cannes and
other festivals. Kieslowski became one of the most importants directors
in Europe and Preisner the leading film music composer of his
generation.
At the same time he continued his collaboration with Kieslowski in such
films like "La double vie de Veronique" and the trilogy of colours
("Blue", "White" and "Red") he also wrote soundtracks for others
important directors like Louis Malle, Agniezka Holland or Héctor
Babenco.
His collaboration with Kieslowski ended with his death in 1996. In the
last years Preisner not only has continued his collaboration in others
movies but he also has been involved in others musical projects like
the writing of an opera to be performed in London and features for the
Varsovia Simphony orchestra.