The sacral sphere in Paweł Łukaszewski’s religious music

Abstract

Paweł Łukaszewski (born in 1968) is considered to be one of the most interesting authors of Polish religious music. His works evoke increasing interest not only in Poland, but also abroad. Łukaszewski’s world-view, although shaped by various life experiences, clearly stems from Christian roots, whereas religion and Catholic faith remain a beacon for the composer in all his artistic operations. The author often emphasises that he dwells on questions connected with the depth of musical message and mapping out a way for the quest which lead to “sacrum”. The composer’s interpretation of the sacrum category results from two principal sources: the teachings of the Church and inspirations with the ideas of a Polish musicologist, Bohdan Pociej. It is the researcher’s opinion that while the category of sacredness in music is grounded in the works’ substance, the music matter itself may be the “carrier” of sacrum. Łukaszewski assumed a position similar to the musicologist regarding the musical means instrumental to “cracking the door” to a different reality. He himself admits: I try to find such sounds, rhythmical values and harmonies which, when combined in the right proportions, just as in an alchemist’s laboratory, will result in an effect difficult to define with words. The author of the article intends to point out those strategies of the composer (often connected with the musical representation phenomenon) which serve to visualise the sacral sphere acoustically and as a result, evoke religious experiences and an exposure to mystery. However, it should be emphasised that the composer’s technique, although significant, is not the author’s final objective; it merely plays a service role towards the superior super-aesthetic values (the term of a Polish philosopher, Władysław Stróżewski). Łukaszewski stressed many times that perhaps, sacrum begins where a workshop ends.