Krzysztof Penderecki was a 1960s radical who put Poland at the forefront of musical modernism. He later moved to a more expressive style and to religious themes, becoming the spiritual voice of his homeland. Penderecki was born in 1933 in Dębica in southeastern Poland. Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima (1961) brought him to international attention: the score, for string orchestra, is made up of dense clouds of notes, and calls for extended performance techniques, slapping and hitting the instruments. Penderecki’s Modernist period culminated with his St. Luke Passion (1966), in which similar textures are used in the context of sacred music. The composer’s Catholic faith became a defining feature of his later music. His large-scale sacred works also took on national significance, and his Polish Requiem (1980-84) demonstrated his support for the Solidarność (Solidarity) movement; the score is dedicated to Lech Wałęsa. Penderecki also wrote prolifically in the genres of opera, chamber music, symphony and concerto. His four string quartets (1960-2016) chart the progression of his style. His Second Violin Concerto, “Metamorphosen” (1992-95, 2005), was written for Anne-Sophie Mutter, and his Piano Concerto, “Resurrection” (2001-02, 2007), is dedicated to the victims of the September 11 attacks. Penderecki was committed to music education, and founded a music centre on his estate in southern Poland, where he died in 2020.