Kazimierz nad Wisłą

In the years 1983, 1986 and 1990, Witold Lutosławski was a guest of the Composition Courses organised in the summer by the Polish Society for Contemporary Music. He was excellently prepared for the lectures and, in contrast to many of his fellow composers, spoke with the utmost precision, which I could appreciate myself, as I was his English interpreter. As was the norm in such situations, the programme combined lectures with individual meetings with participants, who could show him their scores, counting on his advice and hints. Once, when asked about the importance of such courses, Lutosławski said: ‘they give young composers the chance to learn many important and interesting things. They also provide an opportunity to present their own works […], thanks to which the participant can hear both words of criticism and encouragement, which is often of fundamental significance in the life of a composer who is just starting out’.