Szymanowski, Karol (kä`rôl shĭmänôf`skē), 1882–1937, Polish composer; studied in Berlin and Warsaw. His early works show marked German, French, and Russian influences, but in his later compositions he developed a distinctive, national style. Yet his music was not readily accepted in Poland. He was a founder of Young Poland in Music, an association of composers. His works include nine preludes for piano (1900); Love Songs of Hafiz (1911), for voice and instruments; Myths (1915), a set of three pieces for violin and piano which includes The Fountain of Arethusa; two operas, Hagith (written 1913; produced 1922) and King Roger (Warsaw, 1926); the ballet Harnasie (1935); and three symphonies; orchestral and chamber music; songs; and liturgical music.

Szymanowski, Karol (Maciej)

(born Oct. 6, 1882, Timoshovka, Ukraine, Russian Empire—died March 29, 1937, Lausanne, Switz.) Polish composer. Born to a cultivated family, he studied music in Warsaw. Finding few opportunities in Poland for new music, he traveled in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, broadening his musical tastes. After losing all his possessions in World War I, he became a fervent nationalist, studying native Polish music and incorporating it into his own, including the opera King Roger (1924). He served as director of the Warsaw Conservatory (1927–29) but had to resign for reasons of health. He wrote four symphonies, two violin concertos, a piano concerto, a Stabat mater (1926), the ballet Harnasie (1931), and many songs; his piano music includes Metopes (1915), Masques (1916), and 22 mazurkas.