Neoclassical Passacaglia in the Concerto for Orchestra by Witold Lustosławski

Marek Podhajski

The subject of this formal analysis is one of the movements from the Concerto for Orchestra, composed by the Polish composer Witold Lutosławski during the neoclassical period of his work. The methodology of variation form analysis — in this case, ostinato variations (passacaglia) — proposed by Marek Podhajski and presented in his textbook for undergraduate students of various majors was applied. This methodology organizes the presentation of the analysis, covering such issues as: analysis of the theme, ways the theme is used or transformed within the form, characteristics of the formal structure of passacaglia, and means of variation technique. A key focus is the relationship between the theme and the background, including the nature of its variability in the orchestral texture throughout the variation form.

Keywords: Concerto for Orchestra, Lutosławski Witold, ostinato variations, passacaglia

DOI: generating in process

Source(s), object(s) and method(s) of analysis
Source(s) of analysisScore
Year of creation1950-1954
Composer's nameWitold Lutosławski
Target group / Study level
Level of Music Analysis knowledgeAdvanced, Beginner, Intermediate
Study cycleBachelor

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