Roman Maciejewski

Who was Roman Maciejewski?

Roman Maciejewski, Polish composer.

Studied in Julius Stern Conservatorium in Berlin, later with Stanisław Wiechowicz and Kazimierz Sikorski in Poznań Conservatory, then continued with Kazimierz Sikorski in Warsaw Conservatory. In his early years highly acclaimed by Karol Szymanowski. In 1934 went to Paris, to study with Nadia Boulanger. Never returned to his native Poland, staying in various countries abroad: France, United Kingdom, Sweden, USA and again Sweden.

At first he composed inspired by Karol Szymanowski's late style. The tragedy of World War II, and also his very serious illness during his first stay in Sweden, caused a deep change in composer's personality, that has greatly affected his music.

In 1939 Maciejewski began his first "Swedish" period - he married a Swedish dancer and lived in Sweden for twelve years, active as a composer and pianist. He composed music for several theatre productions of Ingmar Bergman, including Camus's Kaligula. While in Sweden, he began his life-work, the Missa pro defunctis, which he finished fifteen years later.