Gryka, Aleksandra
Born in 1977 in Warsaw, she studied composition with Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar as well as Magdalena Długosz and Marek Chołoniewski (electroacoustic composition) at Cracow’s Academy of Music (1998–2003). She has been awarded scholarships by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Foundation for Promoting Creative Arts. In 2003, as part of a student exchange programme with her Academy of Music, she received a bursary from Central Washington University.
One of the most individual Polish composers, Gryka has been strongly inspired in her music by her interest in natural and theoretical science, including quantum physics, as well as literary works, for instance science fiction.
In 2000 she took part in composition courses held in Cracow and Helsinki under the auspices of IRCAM/ACANTHES centres for new music in Paris, and in 2001 she attended courses for composers in Buckow (Germany). In 2002 Gryka participated in the Internationale Sommer Akademie Prag–Wien–Budapest workshops for composers organised in Reichenau (Austria). She won the 1st Prize in the EuroArtMeeting Composers’ Competition in Wrocław for High3bbingNor. for symphony orchestra (2000) and the Christoph und Stephan Kaske Foundation Award for her electroacoustic music (2004). In 2003 and 2006 she was nominated for Polityka’s Passport award in the category of classical music, in 2006, for the TVP Kultura Award, and in 2009, for the Cogito Public Media Award Cogito for her Youmec.
Gryka’s works have been performed in Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Luxembourg, the USA, Ukraine, France, and Italy, at festivals such as Warsaw Autumn, Festival of Premieres Polish Modern Music in Katowice, Sacrum Profanum and Audio Art in Cracow, Musica Polonica Nova in Wrocław, and Instalactions in Warsaw. Gryka has cooperated with many excellent performers specialising in contemporary classical music, including the Berlin-based group NOVOFLOT, Asasello Quartet from Cologne, the Silesian String Quartet, Nonstrom, an_ARCHE NewMusicEnsemble, Kwartludium, Kwadrofonik, Gośka Isphording, and Barbara Kinga Majewska.
Since 2005 she has composed music for theatres in Warsaw, Toruń, Częstochowa, Koszalin, Szczecin, Zielona Góra, Łódź, Cracow, Kielce, and Wrocław. In 2012 her music for the spectacle Trash Story directed by Marcin Liber won a prize at the 12th “Constructed Reality” Festival of Contemporary Dramatic Art in Zabrze. Her stage works have been presented at the Grand Theatre – Polish National Opera in Warsaw.
Selected works: For D. for piano (1999), Lien-al. for cello, harpsichord and accordion (2000), High3bbingNor. for symphony orchestra (2000), Interioryzacion, computer work (2000), OXYGEN no. 369.1 for tape and piano (2001), NonStopping Center for harpsichord (2001), (1’) exists as... (-1’) for flute, accordion, percussion, piano and cello (2001), Project ien for tape, video and dancer (2002), JaIchIJe for string quartet and marimba (2002), Interialcell for ensemble (2003), + for chamber orchestra (2003), eSU for tape and video components (2004), konstrunity 0100 for 12 voices (2004), Üsinn for clarinet, trombone, cello and piano (2004), Tii for soprano and ensemble from opera-saga project Commander Kobayashi (2004–5), ambeoidal MTOCSs for clarinet, marimba, piano, violin, tape and video (2005), Alpha Kryonia Xe, a ballet (2006), NTvacou for contrabass recorder, harpsichord, violin and cello (2006), SCREAM YOU, opera from Commander Kobayashi II (2006), Youmec for harpsichord and tape (2006), {FFO.NO.}e for cello (2007), BAe 146 OY-CRG.Sylar for ensemble (2007), NEI for violin, tape and video (2008), SCREAM QUEEN, opera (with NOVOFLOT, 2008), t.Aamiper for orchestra, trumpet and electronics (2009), The LighetM for string quartet (2009), Erschöpfung, opera (with NOVOFLOT, 2010), Glück, opera (with NOVOFLOT, 2011), einerjedeneither for ensemble (2011), observerobserver for Paetzold contrabass recorder, contrabass flute, electronics and video (2012), 10,12,13,-31 for string quartet (2012), das Schloss, opera (with NOVOFLOT, 2013), Der Sieg Uber die Sonne, opera (with NOVOFLOT, 2013), A.CELLfalserator for two pianos (2013), W.ALTER’s(Z) for mezzo-soprano, two pianists, two percussionists and electronics (2014), MUTEDISORDER for violin, clarinet, piano and percussion (2015), emptyloop for string quartet (2020), Plastic for three samplers (2021). cosmic unicorn radiation for two accordions, sampler and controler (2023), H. BOX e-15 for early music ensemble (2024).