Concerto for harpsichord (piano) and string orchestra op 40, by Henrik Mikołaj Górecki. Timeless expression, modern solutions, baroque richness

Abstract

The present article aims at emphasizing the compositional methods that Henrik Mikołaj Górecki, a Polish musician who passed away in 2010 uses in his Concerto for harpsichord (piano) and string orchestra op. 40. In this piece he composed in 1980, the main striking, effective element is rhythm, which is surprisingly varied and skillfully combined with the meter. The apparent lack of color and dynamic contrast specific to Baroque music is balanced by the skillful rhythmic expression used within the frame of repetitive techniques with American minimalist influence, characteristic of the 20th century. To the listener and the researcher alike, the differences between the ages and trends vanish once the baroque core is revealed underneath its modern cover. At the end of the present research, we pay tribute to the solid musical architecture and the ingenious rhythmic combinations.