Krzysztof Penderecki
(c) Bruno Fydrich
Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki (*1933) has received the papal medal ‘Per Artem ad Deum’ (Through Art to God) from the Pontifical Council for Culture. A statement speaks of his « constant pursuit of God along the paths delineated with the staves and notes. »
Penderecki started writing sacred music in the late 1950s, during the communist times. His catalogue of compositions includes the St Luke Passion, Dies irae, Magnificat, the Polish Requiem, and Credo. Penderecki is quoted as having said: « This award is the crowning of my artistic activity. »
The Pontifical Council for Culture was founded in 1982 upon the initiative of Pope John Paul II.
