Orpheus in the Woods

Orpheus in the Woods is a cantata consisting of six songs with the lyrics by Polish poet Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński (1921-1944). The contents, dramaturgy and formal arrangement of this composition is determined by the original poem and its emotions, changes of atmosphere and bright and charming poetical form.

The form of the piece is cyclical. It can however be analysed as one entity structured as A-B-C-D-E-A’. It is quite different in style from previous compositions because the composer was trying to find here new means of expression. As a result one can find a broad spectrum of technical and expressive problems in this piece and therefore it is aimed at high level professional choirs.