THE SACRED IN HENRYK MIKOŁAJ GÓRECKI’S OEUVRE AND THE GREATNESS OF JOHN PAUL II INSPIRATIONS AND CONTEXT
THE SACRED IN HENRYK MIKOŁAJ GÓRECKI’S OEUVRE AND THE GREATNESS OF JOHN PAUL II INSPIRATIONS AND CONTEXT

Summary/Abstract: The author argues that the sacred informs Henryk Mikołaj Górecki’s oeuvre. Theconsiderations start with a brief examination of the sacred in music in general,based on research in literary studies, philosophy, and theory of music. At thecenter are the composer’s religious works, which defi ne the differentia specifi caof his output. To describe them, the author uses the method of integral interpre-tation developed by Mieczysław Tomaszewski. Due to the importance of thetextual element in the composer’s works, special attention is given to the rela-tionships between word and sound, sacred text and sacred music. Górecki’s im-portant statements are analyzed as interestingly documenting his self-refl ectionand, above all, his unique personality. Since Górecki drew unfaltering inspirationfrom the intellectual outlook and personality of Pope John Paul II, the author ofthe paper scrutinizes, on the one hand, the teaching of John Paul II on music andart and, on the other, the special bond between the composer and the Pope.

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