
Witold Lutosławski
Polish composer born 25 January 1913 in Warsaw; died 7 February 1994 in Warsaw.
Witold Lutosławski studied piano and violin, and, starting in 1927, composition and music theory with Witold Maliszewski (a former pupil of Rimski-Korsakov) at the Warsaw Conservatory and in Hamburg. He also attended Warsaw University, where he studied mathematics. In 1936, he graduated with a degree in piano performance, and the following year, in composition.
His hopes of pursuing further study of composition in Paris were dashed by growing political tensions in Europe. Captured and interned as a prisoner of war by the Germans in 1939, he escaped and subsequently earned a living as a pianist, playing in cafes in Warsaw from 1940 to 1945, alongside fellow pianist and composer Andrzej Panufnik.
The majority of his early pieces were lost in the Warsaw uprising of 1944. In addition to composing piano and chamber works, during this period he became interested in Polish folk music, making arrangements of several pieces. His knowledge of this tradition would be applied throughout his career, notably in his teaching, but also in his efforts to promote the musical culture of his homeland. His final work before the invasion of Poland, the Symphonic Variations, while betraying the influences of Stravinsky and Szymanowski, was nonetheless a testament to the composer’s talent and creativity, and the piece was subsequently reperformed on several occasions in Paris after the war. From 1941 to 1947, Lutosławski worked on his First Symphony (premiered in 1948). Dismissed as “formalist” by the Soviet authorities, the piece was blacklisted during Stalin’s rule.
Lutosławski nonetheless continued to seek an idiomatic aesthetic in his music, while also composing neo-Bartokian pieces (such as the Dance Preludes) which were sanctioned by the authorities in Soviet-controlled Poland. Musique Funèbre for string orchestra (1958) represents a major milestone in this stylistic development. Based on a twelve-tone theme, it creates an atmosphere of profound tension through the use of total chromaticism (in the form of aggregates and clusters), aligning it much more with the music of the Second Viennese School than that of his Socialist Realist colleagues. However, Lutosławski never fully adopted the aesthetic and pointillistic textures of the serial music of his time, instead progressively developing a highly personal, “open work” approach in which performers are given a certain level of freedom in their interpretation of notated material. This approach — which came to be known as the “controlled aleatoric method” — reached a new level of refinement in Jeux Vénitiens (1961), the work which cemented the composer’s international standing.
The thaw in relations between East and West resulted in a surge of interest in Lutosławski’s work in Western concert halls, which, in turn, gave rise to a string of commissions. He subsequently travelled to the United States and Great Britain where he taught and also gained broad recognition for his prowess as a composer. Notable premieres in the following years included his String Quartet (1964) by the LaSalle Quartet in Stockholm; the Livre pour Orchestre in 1968 in Hagen (Germany); Mi-parti at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in 1976; and Novelette in Washington, DC in 1980.
He composed works, which have since become classics, for esteemed soloists including Peter Pears (Paroles tissées, 1965), Rostropovitch (Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, 1969-70), Fischer-Dieskau (Les espaces du sommeil), Ursula and Heinz Holliger (Double Concerto for oboe, harp, and chamber orchestra, 1969-70), Anne-Sophie Mutter (Chain 2, a “dialogue” for violin and orchestra, 1984-85, and a version for violin and orchestra of Partita, 1984-88), and Krystian Zimerman (Piano Concerto).
His Fourth Symphony, a work which epitomises the Lutosławskian concept of the “expansive” melody, was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the behest of Esa-Pekka Salonen, and premiered in February 1993 with the composer himself conducting.
Witold Lutosławski, a deeply modest individual, has been decorated with dozens of prestigious awards, including the first Grawemeyer Prize, a Gold Medal from the Royal Philharmonic Society, the Queen Sofia Prize from the Ferrer-Salat Foundation (Spain), and, in 1993, the Polar Music Prize and the Inamori Prize from the Kyoto Foundation.
© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2010
Sources
- Éditions Chester.
- Encyclopédie Grove, Oxford University Press.
- Stanisław BEDKOWSKI, Stanisław HRABIA, Witold Lutosławski, A Bio-Bibiography, Greenwood Press, USA, 2001.
- Solo (excluding voice)
- Prelude for piano (1922), partition perdue
- Petites pièces for piano (1923-1926), partition perdue
- Poème for piano (1928), partition perdue
- Taniec chimery [Chimera-danse] for piano (1930), partition perdue
- Sonata for piano (1934), 25 mn, Inédit
- Preludium i aria for piano (1936), partition perdue
- Gwa etiudy - Two Studies for piano (1941), 4 mn 20 s, Chester Music
- Melodie Ludowe [Folk Songs] twelve easy pieces for piano (1945), 10 mn, Chester Music
- Bukoliki for piano (1952), 5 mn 15 s, Chester Music
- Trzy utwory dla młodzieży [Three Pieces for Young People] three educational pieces for piano (1953), 4 mn, Chester Music
- Inwencja [Invention] for piano (1968), 50 s, Chester Music
- Sacher Variation for solo cello (1975), 4 mn, Chester Music
- Chamber music
- Deux sonates pour violon et piano (1927), partition perdue
- Variations on a Theme of Paganini for two pianos (1941), 6 mn, Chester Music
- Fifty Contrapuntal Studies for woodwind (1943-1944), Inédit
- Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1944-1945), 16 mn, Inédit
- Recitative e arioso for violin and piano (1951), 3 mn, Chester Music
- Miniatura for two pianos (1953), 2 mn, Chester Music
- Cztery Melodie sląskie [Four Silesian Melodies] educational pieces for four violins (1954), 5 mn, Chester Music
- Preludia taneczne for clarinet and piano (1954), 7 mn, Chester Music
- Zasłyszana melodyjka [An Overheard Tune] for two pianos (1957), 5 mn, Chester Music
- Sześć kolęd [Christmas Carols] for three recorders (1959), Moeck
- Bukoliki version for viola and piano (1962), 5 mn 15 s, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- String Quartet (1964), 24 mn, Chester Music [program note]
- Epitaph for oboe and piano (1979), 5 mn 30 s, Chester Music
- Grave Metamorphoses for cello and piano (1981), 7 mn, Chester Music
- Mini-Overture for brass quintet (1982), 3 mn, Chester Music
- Partita for violin and piano (1984), 15 mn, Chester Music
- Fanfare for CUBE for brass quintet (1987), 30 s, Chester Music
- Subito for violin and piano (1992), 8 mn, Chester Music
- Instrumental ensemble music
- Scherzo for orchestra (1930), partition perdue
- stage Harun al Raszid for orchestra (1931), partition perdue
- Double Fugue for orchestra (1936), partition perdue
- Symphonic Variations for orchestra (1936-1938), 9 mn, Chester Music
- Symphony no. 1 (1941-1947), 25 mn, Chester Music
- stage Cyd music for Corneille's Cid, for small instrumental ensemble (1948), Inédit
- Overture for Strings (1949), 5 mn, Chester Music
- stage Wesołe kumoszki z Windsoru theater music, for instrumental ensemble (1949), Inédit
- stage Bóg, Cezarz i chłop theater music, for instrumental ensemble (1950), Inédit
- Little Suite for orchestra (1950-1951), 11 mn, Chester Music
- Pięć melodii ludowych [Five Folk Melodies] transcription for string orchestra (1952), 6 mn, Chester Music
- Dziesięć tańców polskich [Ten polish dances] for chamber orchestra (1953), Inédit
- Dmuchawce for orchestra (1954), Inédit
- Koncert na orkiestre [Concerto for Orchestra] (1950-1954), 29 mn, Chester Music
- Musique funèbre [Muzyka żałobna] for string orchestra (1958), 14 mn, Chester Music
- Preludia taneczne [Dance Preludes] set version (1959), 7 mn, Chester Music
- Three Postludes for orchestra (1958-1960, 1960-1963), 17 mn, Chester Music
- Jeux vénitiens for chamber orchestra (1960-1961), 13 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Symphony No. 2 (1965-1967), 30 mn, Chester Music
- Livre pour orchestre (1968), 20 mn, Chester Music
- Preludes and Fugue for thirteen solo string instruments (1970-1972), 32 mn, Chester Music [program note]
- Mi-parti for orchestra (1975-1976), 15 mn, Chester Music
- Novelette for orchestra (1978-1979), 18 mn, Chester Music
- Chain 1 for ensemble (1983), 9 mn, Chester Music
- Symphony No.3 (1981-1983), 30 mn, Chester Music [program note]
- Chain 3 for orchestra (1986), 10 mn, Chester Music
- Fanfare for Louisville for wind and percussion orchestra (1986), 2 mn, Chester Music
- Slides for set (1988), 4 mn, Chester Music
- Fanfare for Lancaster for brass and percussion ensemble (1989), 60 s, Chester Music
- Interlude for chamber orchestra (1989), 5 mn, Chester Music
- Prelude for G.S.M.D for orchestra (1989), 2 mn, Chester Music
- Symphony No.4 (1988-1992), 22 mn, Chester Music
- Fanfare for LA Philharmonic for wind instruments and percussion (1993), 60 s, Chester Music
- Concert music
- Preludia taneczne [Dance Preludes] for clarinet and chamber orchestra (1955), 7 mn, Chester Music
- Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1969-1970), 24 mn, Chester Music
- Variations on a Theme of Paganini version for piano and orchestra (1941-1978), 11 mn, Chester Music
- Double Concerto for oboe, harp and chamber orchestra (1979-1980), 20 mn, Chester Music
- Chain 2 Dialogue, for violin and orchestra (1984-1985), 18 mn, Chester Music
- Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1987-1988), 27 mn, Chester Music
- Partita version for violin and orchestra (1984-1988), 15 mn, Chester Music
- Vocal music and instrument(s)
- Three Children's Songs (), 6 mn, Chester Music
- Wodnica ; Kołysanka lipowa two songs, for voice and piano (1934), partition perdue
- Lacrimosa for soprano, choir and orchestra (1937), 3 mn, Chester Music
- Requiem aeternam ; Lacrimosa for choir and orchestra; for soprano and orchestra (1937), partition perdue
- Pieśni walki podziemnej for voice and piano (1942-1944), 15 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Dwadzieście kolęd [Twenty Polish Christmas Carols] for voice and piano (1946), 45 mn, Chester Music
- Sześć piosenek dziecinnych [Six Children's Songs] for voice and piano (1947), 8 mn, Chester Music
- stage Fantazy theater music, for female choir and instrumental ensemble (1948), Inédit
- Spóżniony słowik - O Panu Tralalińskim two children's songs for voice and piano (1948), 5 mn, Chester Music
- Lawina for voice and piano (1949), PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Słomkowy lańcuszek i inne dziecinne utwory for soprano, mezzo-soprano and five woodwinds (1950), 10 mn, Chester Music
- Jesień cycle of children's songs for mezzo-soprano and orchestra (1951), 7 mn, Chester Music
- Służba Polsce for male choir and piano (1951), PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Tryptyk Śląski for soprano and orchestra (1951), 9 mn, Chester Music
- Wiosna cycle of children's songs for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra (1951), 10 mn, Chester Music
- Siedem pieśni for unison voice or choir and piano (1950-1952), 15 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Spóżniony słowik - O Panu Tralalińskim version for soprano and chamber orchestra (1948-1952), 5 mn, Inédit
- Srebna szybka; Muszelka two children's songs for voice and piano (1952), 16 mn, Chester Music
- Sześć piosenek dziecinnych version for children's choir and orchestra (1952), 8 mn, Inédit
- Children's Songs version for voice and orchestra (1953), Inédit
- Children's Songs for voice and piano (1953), Chester Music
- Srebna szybka - Muszelka version for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra (1953), 16 mn, Inédit
- Sześć piosenek dziecinnych [Six Children's Songs] version for mezzo-soprano and orchestra (1953), 8 mn, Inédit
- Trzy pieśni [Three soldiers songs] for voice and piano (1953), 4 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Children's Songs four songs, for voice and chamber orchestra (1954), Chester Music
- Five songs on Texts of Kazimiera Iłłakowicz [Pięć pieśni do słów Kazimiery Iłłakowiczówny] for mezzo-soprano and piano (1956-1957), 9 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Five songs on Texts of Kazimiera Iłłakowicz [Pięć pieśni do słów Kazimiery Iłłakowiczówny] version for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra (1958), 9 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Piosenki dziecinne [Children's Songs] for voice and piano (1958), 12 mn, Chester Music
- Three Children's Songs for voice and piano (1958), Inédit
- Trzy Piosenki dziecinne [Three Children's Songs] for voice and piano (1959), Inédit
- Trois Poèmes d'Henri Michaux for mixed choir of solo voices and orchestra without strings (1961-1963), 20 mn, Chester Music
- Paroles tissées for tenor and ensemble (1965), 15 mn, Chester Music
- Les espaces du sommeil for baritone and orchestra (1975), 15 mn, Chester Music
- The Holly and the Ivy for unison voice and piano (1985), 2 mn, Chester Music
- Dwadzieście kolęd - Twenty Polish Christmas Carols for soprano, women's choir and chamber orchestra (1984-1989), 45 mn, Chester Music
- Tarantella for baritone and piano (1990), 3 mn, Chester Music
- Chantefleurs et Chantefables for soprano and chamber orchestra (1991), 20 mn, Chester Music [program note]
- A cappella vocal music
- Dziesięc polskich pieśni ludowych na tamaty żołnierskie [Ten Popular Polish Songs on Soldiers' Themes] for male choir a cappella (1951), 8 mn
- Naprzód idziemy for mixed choir a cappella (1951), PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Wyszłabym ja for mixed choir a cappella (1951), PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Żelazny marsz for mixed choir a cappella (1951), PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Electronic music / fixed media / mechanical musical instruments
- Gore movie soundtrack (1935-1936), Inédit
- Uwaga movie soundtrack (1935-1936), Inédit
- Zwarcie movie soundtrack (1935-1936), Inédit
- Odrą do Bałtyku film music, for orchestra (1945), 39 mn
- Suita Warszawska film music, for orchestra (1946), 20 mn
- Unspecified instrumentation
- Four Fanfares (1954), Inédit
- 1993
- Fanfare for LA Philharmonic for wind instruments and percussion, 60 s, Chester Music
- 1992
- Subito for violin and piano, 8 mn, Chester Music
- Symphony No.4, 22 mn, Chester Music
- 1991
- Chantefleurs et Chantefables for soprano and chamber orchestra, 20 mn, Chester Music [program note]
- 1990
- Tarantella for baritone and piano, 3 mn, Chester Music
- 1989
- Dwadzieście kolęd - Twenty Polish Christmas Carols for soprano, women's choir and chamber orchestra, 45 mn, Chester Music
- Fanfare for Lancaster for brass and percussion ensemble, 60 s, Chester Music
- Interlude for chamber orchestra, 5 mn, Chester Music
- Prelude for G.S.M.D for orchestra, 2 mn, Chester Music
- 1988
- Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, 27 mn, Chester Music
- Partita version for violin and orchestra, 15 mn, Chester Music
- Slides for set, 4 mn, Chester Music
- 1987
- Fanfare for CUBE for brass quintet, 30 s, Chester Music
- 1986
- Chain 3 for orchestra, 10 mn, Chester Music
- Fanfare for Louisville for wind and percussion orchestra, 2 mn, Chester Music
- 1985
- Chain 2 Dialogue, for violin and orchestra, 18 mn, Chester Music
- The Holly and the Ivy for unison voice and piano, 2 mn, Chester Music
- 1984
- Partita for violin and piano, 15 mn, Chester Music
- 1983
- Chain 1 for ensemble, 9 mn, Chester Music
- Symphony No.3, 30 mn, Chester Music [program note]
- 1982
- Mini-Overture for brass quintet, 3 mn, Chester Music
- 1981
- Grave Metamorphoses for cello and piano, 7 mn, Chester Music
- 1980
- Double Concerto for oboe, harp and chamber orchestra, 20 mn, Chester Music
- 1979
- 1978
- Variations on a Theme of Paganini version for piano and orchestra, 11 mn, Chester Music
- 1976
- Mi-parti for orchestra, 15 mn, Chester Music
- 1975
- Les espaces du sommeil for baritone and orchestra, 15 mn, Chester Music
- Sacher Variation for solo cello, 4 mn, Chester Music
- 1972
- Preludes and Fugue for thirteen solo string instruments, 32 mn, Chester Music [program note]
- 1970
- Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, 24 mn, Chester Music
- 1968
- Inwencja [Invention] for piano, 50 s, Chester Music
- Livre pour orchestre, 20 mn, Chester Music
- 1967
- Symphony No. 2, 30 mn, Chester Music
- 1965
- Paroles tissées for tenor and ensemble, 15 mn, Chester Music
- 1964
- String Quartet, 24 mn, Chester Music [program note]
- 1963
- Trois Poèmes d'Henri Michaux for mixed choir of solo voices and orchestra without strings, 20 mn, Chester Music
- 1962
- Bukoliki version for viola and piano, 5 mn 15 s, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- 1961
- Jeux vénitiens for chamber orchestra, 13 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- 1960
- Three Postludes for orchestra, 17 mn, Chester Music
- 1959
- Preludia taneczne [Dance Preludes] set version, 7 mn, Chester Music
- Sześć kolęd [Christmas Carols] for three recorders, Moeck
- Trzy Piosenki dziecinne [Three Children's Songs] for voice and piano, Inédit
- 1958
- Five songs on Texts of Kazimiera Iłłakowicz [Pięć pieśni do słów Kazimiery Iłłakowiczówny] version for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra, 9 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Musique funèbre [Muzyka żałobna] for string orchestra, 14 mn, Chester Music
- Piosenki dziecinne [Children's Songs] for voice and piano, 12 mn, Chester Music
- Three Children's Songs for voice and piano, Inédit
- 1957
- Five songs on Texts of Kazimiera Iłłakowicz [Pięć pieśni do słów Kazimiery Iłłakowiczówny] for mezzo-soprano and piano, 9 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Zasłyszana melodyjka [An Overheard Tune] for two pianos, 5 mn, Chester Music
- 1955
- Preludia taneczne [Dance Preludes] for clarinet and chamber orchestra, 7 mn, Chester Music
- 1954
- Children's Songs four songs, for voice and chamber orchestra, Chester Music
- Cztery Melodie sląskie [Four Silesian Melodies] educational pieces for four violins, 5 mn, Chester Music
- Dmuchawce for orchestra, Inédit
- Four Fanfares, Inédit
- Koncert na orkiestre [Concerto for Orchestra], 29 mn, Chester Music
- Preludia taneczne for clarinet and piano, 7 mn, Chester Music
- 1953
- Children's Songs version for voice and orchestra, Inédit
- Children's Songs for voice and piano, Chester Music
- Dziesięć tańców polskich [Ten polish dances] for chamber orchestra, Inédit
- Miniatura for two pianos, 2 mn, Chester Music
- Srebna szybka - Muszelka version for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra, 16 mn, Inédit
- Sześć piosenek dziecinnych [Six Children's Songs] version for mezzo-soprano and orchestra, 8 mn, Inédit
- Trzy pieśni [Three soldiers songs] for voice and piano, 4 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Trzy utwory dla młodzieży [Three Pieces for Young People] three educational pieces for piano, 4 mn, Chester Music
- 1952
- Bukoliki for piano, 5 mn 15 s, Chester Music
- Pięć melodii ludowych [Five Folk Melodies] transcription for string orchestra, 6 mn, Chester Music
- Siedem pieśni for unison voice or choir and piano, 15 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Spóżniony słowik - O Panu Tralalińskim version for soprano and chamber orchestra, 5 mn, Inédit
- Srebna szybka; Muszelka two children's songs for voice and piano, 16 mn, Chester Music
- Sześć piosenek dziecinnych version for children's choir and orchestra, 8 mn, Inédit
- 1951
- Dziesięc polskich pieśni ludowych na tamaty żołnierskie [Ten Popular Polish Songs on Soldiers' Themes] for male choir a cappella, 8 mn
- Jesień cycle of children's songs for mezzo-soprano and orchestra, 7 mn, Chester Music
- Little Suite for orchestra, 11 mn, Chester Music
- Naprzód idziemy for mixed choir a cappella , PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Recitative e arioso for violin and piano, 3 mn, Chester Music
- Służba Polsce for male choir and piano, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Tryptyk Śląski for soprano and orchestra, 9 mn, Chester Music
- Wiosna cycle of children's songs for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra, 10 mn, Chester Music
- Wyszłabym ja for mixed choir a cappella , PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Żelazny marsz for mixed choir a cappella , PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- 1950
- stage Bóg, Cezarz i chłop theater music, for instrumental ensemble, Inédit
- Słomkowy lańcuszek i inne dziecinne utwory for soprano, mezzo-soprano and five woodwinds, 10 mn, Chester Music
- 1949
- Lawina for voice and piano, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- Overture for Strings, 5 mn, Chester Music
- stage Wesołe kumoszki z Windsoru theater music, for instrumental ensemble, Inédit
- 1948
- stage Cyd music for Corneille's Cid, for small instrumental ensemble, Inédit
- stage Fantazy theater music, for female choir and instrumental ensemble, Inédit
- Spóżniony słowik - O Panu Tralalińskim two children's songs for voice and piano, 5 mn, Chester Music
- 1947
- Symphony no. 1, 25 mn, Chester Music
- Sześć piosenek dziecinnych [Six Children's Songs] for voice and piano, 8 mn, Chester Music
- 1946
- Dwadzieście kolęd [Twenty Polish Christmas Carols] for voice and piano, 45 mn, Chester Music
- Suita Warszawska film music, for orchestra, 20 mn
- 1945
- Melodie Ludowe [Folk Songs] twelve easy pieces for piano, 10 mn, Chester Music
- Odrą do Bałtyku film music, for orchestra, 39 mn
- Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon, 16 mn, Inédit
- 1944
- Fifty Contrapuntal Studies for woodwind, Inédit
- Pieśni walki podziemnej for voice and piano, 15 mn, PWM (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne)
- 1941
- Gwa etiudy - Two Studies for piano, 4 mn 20 s, Chester Music
- Variations on a Theme of Paganini for two pianos, 6 mn, Chester Music
- 1938
- Symphonic Variations for orchestra, 9 mn, Chester Music
- 1937
- Lacrimosa for soprano, choir and orchestra, 3 mn, Chester Music
- Requiem aeternam ; Lacrimosa for choir and orchestra; for soprano and orchestra, partition perdue
- 1936
- Double Fugue for orchestra, partition perdue
- Gore movie soundtrack, Inédit
- Preludium i aria for piano, partition perdue
- Uwaga movie soundtrack, Inédit
- Zwarcie movie soundtrack, Inédit
- 1934
- Sonata for piano, 25 mn, Inédit
- Wodnica ; Kołysanka lipowa two songs, for voice and piano, partition perdue
- 1931
- stage Harun al Raszid for orchestra, partition perdue
- 1930
- Scherzo for orchestra, partition perdue
- Taniec chimery [Chimera-danse] for piano, partition perdue
- 1928
- Poème for piano, partition perdue
- 1927
- Deux sonates pour violon et piano, partition perdue
- 1926
- Petites pièces for piano, partition perdue
- 1922
- Prelude for piano, partition perdue
- Date de composition inconnue
- Three Children's Songs, 6 mn, Chester Music
Biographie sélective
- Stanisław BEDKOWSKI, Stanisław HRABIA, Witold Lutosławski, A Bio-Bibiography, Greenwood Press, USA, 2001.
- Charles BODMAN RAE, The music of Lutosławski, Faber and Faber, Londres, 1994.
- Jean-Paul COUCHOUD, La musique polonaise et Wiltold Lutosławski, éd. Stock, coll. musique, Paris, 1981.
- Lisa JAKELSKI, Nicholas REYLAND,Lutosławski’s worlds, Woodbridge, The Boydell Press, 2018.
- Tadeusz KACZYNSKI, Conversations with Witold Lutosławski, Chester Music, Londres, 1984.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, Zbigniew SKOWRON, Zapiski, Varsovie, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, 2008.
- Zbigniew SKOWRON (éditeur), Lutosławski on music, The Scarecrow Press, Inc. Plymouth, Grande-Bretagne, 2007.
- Zbigniew SKOWRON (éditeur), Lutosławski Studies, Oxford University Press, 2001.
- Steven STUCKY, Lutosławski and his music, Cambridge University Press, 1981.
- Bàlint Andràs VARGA, Lutosławski profile [entretiens], Chester Music, 1976.
Discographie sélective
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, Concerto for Orchestra ; Little Suite ; Symphony N°4, NDR Symphony Orchestra, Krzysztof Urbański : direction, dans « Lutosławski », 1 cd Alpha Classics, 2015, ALPHA 232.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, Symphonic Variations ; Concerto for Piano and Orchestra ; Variations on a Theme of Paganini ; Symphony N°4, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Edward Gardner : direction, dans « Orchestral Works, Volume 2 », 1 cd Chandos, 2012.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, Symphony N°3 ; Chain 3 ; Concerto for Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Edward Gardner : direction, dans « Orchestral Works, Volume 1 », 1 cd Chandos, 2010, CHSA 5082.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, String Quartet, Lasalle Quartet, avec les quatuors à corde de John Cage, Penderecki et Maguzumi, 1 cd Brilliant Classics, 2010.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, « Œuvres orchestrales » : Symphonic Variations ; Symphony No.1 ; Musique funèbre ;Symphony No.2 ; Concerto pour orchestre ; Jeux vénitiens ; Livre pour orchestre ; Mi-parti ; Préludes et fugues pour treize cordes ; Trois poèmes d’Henri Michaux ; Paroles tissées ; Postlude n° 1, Louis Devos : ténor, chœur de la raidio de Cracovie, Orchestre de chambre polonais, Orchestre symphonique de la radio polonaise, direction : Witold Lutosławski, 3 cd Brilliant Classics, 2009.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, « Œuvres pour orchestre, Mélodies, Quatuor à corde » : Préludes et fugues pour treize cordes ; Trois poèmes d’Henri Michaux ; Paroles tissées ; Postlude n° 1 ; Cinq chants pour soprano et orchestre; Concerto pour violoncelle ; Quatuor à cordes, orchestre de chambre de la radio polonaise, direction : Witold S, Louis Devos : ténor, Halina Lukomska : mezzo-soprano, Roman Jablonski : violoncelle, 2 cds EMI, 2004.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, Symphonic Variations ; Symphony No.1 ; Symphony No.2 ; Concerto pour orchestre ; Jeux vénitiens ; Livre pour orchestre ; Mi-parti, Orchestre symphonique national de la radio polonaise, direction : Witold Lutosławski, 2 cd EMI, 2000 [enregistrement de 1978].
- « Lutosławski dirigiert Lutosławski »: Musique funèbre ; Chain 2 ; Sinfonie Nr. 3, Sinfonieorchester Musikhochschule Karlruhe, Koh-Gabriel Kameda : violon, 1 cd Antes edition, 1996.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, Symphony No.4 ; Les Espaces du sommeil ; Symphony No.3, John Shirley-Quirk : baryton, Los Angeles Philharmonic, direction : Esa-Pekka Salonen, 1 cd Sony, 1994, n° SK 66280.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, String Quartet, Kronos Quartet, 1 cd Ekektra Nonsuch, 1991, n° 9 79255-2.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, 1. Venetian Games ; 2. Trois poèmes d’Henri Michaux ; 3. Symphony No.2, Orchestre philharmonique national de Varsovie, direction : Witold Rowicki (1), Witold Lutosławski (2), Orchestre symphonique national de Katowice, direction : Jan Krenz (3), 1 cd muza, 1989 [enregistrements de 1962 (1), 1964 (2) et 1968 (3)].
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, Chaîne 2 ; Petite suite ; Musique funèbre ; Jeux vénitiens, Krysztof Jakowicz : violon, Fiharmonia Pomorska, direction : Takao Ukigaya, Andrezf Legowski : flûte solo, 1 cd Thorofon, 1988, n° CTH 2041.
- Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI, Concerto pour violoncelle, Mstislaw Rostropovich, orchestre de Paris, direction : Witold Lutosławski, avec le concerto pour violoncelle d’Henri Dutilleux, 1 cd EMI, n° 7 49304 2 [enregistrement de 1975].