Krzysztof Penderecki

Krzysztof Penderecki, one of the leading composers of the Polish avant-garde, died on Sunday, March 29, at the age of 86. I don't know much of his music - yes, I know! I should! - but was lucky enough to hear a gripping performance of the Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima at San Francisco Symphony, led by the young Polish conductor Krzysztof Urbanski. It's a great piece, deeply moving, and whatever the composer claimed....extremely beautiful.

The NY Times has a great obituary by Daniel Lewis.