Ruch Muzyczny nr 11/2013, 26.05.2013r.
Piotr Salaber - ur.1966; composer, pianist and conductor. Diploma from prof. B. Muchenberg (piano) received at the PSM of the second degree in Toruń (1987). A graduate of the Music Academy in Bydgoszcz - the first from the Department of Choral Conducting and Music Education and then, from the Music Composition and Theory. He received a doctorate in musical arts in conducting (2005) and habilitation (2012).
He perfected his compositional technique under the direction of Karlheinz Stockhausen during master classes in Kuerten, near Cologne (1998-2002), and Elżbieta Sikora and Alain Savouret (International Course for Composers, Gdańsk 2000).
Author of music for more than eighty theatrical performances, hundreds of songs, radio and television programs, two feature films and TV series. Conducts all recording of his theater and film music. He successfully combines the artistic activity and teaching classes at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz and Audiovisual Arts Institute at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow.
Predominant part of my job is to write music associated with the image. Among all the media, the theater seems to me to be an area that leaves the most creative freedom. Spatial elements, giving more and more possibilities in contemporary theater, allow me to use the experience of the Stockhausen courses.
The result of my multiple stays in Cologne is also still ongoing collaboration with Markus Stockhausen. Ability to cooperate with friends is one of the greatest advantages of my work. In recordings of my music you can hear: Markus Stockhausen, Katarzyna Duda, Weronika Grozdew, Glass Duo, Adam Klocek, Chamber Choir of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz run by prof. J. Stanecki.
The great satisfaction for me is to cross cultural and language barriers. In one of the most important Russian theaters - the Bolshoi Drama Theater in St. Petersburg I have a chance to work with Andrzej Bubień, Eduard Kotchergin and Yuri Wasilkov.
Before my previous premier in this theater, in 2011, I also had the opportunity to give a lecture at the scientific conference - "Mrożek - Polish lessons", talking about the relationship between the text of the drama and musical elements, I used in St. Petersburg performance.
In addition to the cooperation with theaters in Poland, like - Athenaeum in Warsaw or Wroclaw Pantomime, I also had the pleasure of writing music for Atelier-Théâtre in Paris, The Popular Theatre in Vancouver, Csokonai Theater in Debrecen.
I am very pleased that the performances with my music received the prizes - in Shanghai - in 2010 for the Dragon King's Daughter and - Romane Paramisia (2012). In addition, the performance of Eight Lights of Hanukkah was presented at Singer's Warsaw Festival and won the Grand Prix at the Europafest – international festival in 2009.
For more than a year in the Avenue of the Warsaw Radio the Third Program, you can sit on a bench and listen to my music accompanying radio fairytales. On the radio, you could also hear eight novels with my music. Last - The Latest Adventures of Nicholas, read by Jerzy Stuhr. Next year, together with the publishing house “Znak” we are planning the concert version of the event with the Cracow Philharmonics.
My main subjects in teaching is - film music and theater music, at the Jagiellonian University and the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. There is even a new specialization created there- theater music.
I believe that the essence of writing music for theater or film is that it is inextricably affiliated with the image, complemented with a metaphysical layer. Therefore, I do agree with the concept of Vsevolod Meyerhold, who treated the theatrical play as a musical score. This idea, I try to pass to my students
Large parts of my dissertation - The symbiosis of music and drama - was published in "Aesthetics and criticism" issued by the Institute of Philosophy of the Jagiellonian University. A book that is part of my habilitation: “Conductor in the studio or microphone instead of the audience. Specificity of the work of the conductor in the studio, recording film and theater music” was published by Scientific Publishing House of the Copernicus University in Toruń.
Julita Kosińska
