Composer: Lech Jankowski
Tracklist
1. Canone Non Infinitone 05:26
2. A Very Old Mexican Dance 01:07
3. Finale 05:59
4. Con-Trapuncto 01:00
5. Lullaby/Waltz 09:25
6. Introdukja Liliowa 01:11
7. Mazurek 06:48
8. Kolysanka Wg. Erika S. 01:17
9. Marsz 02:48
10. Menuet I 03:01
11. Maly Cmentarz Harf 01:55
12. Waltz Z.K. Minor 03:06
13. Zym-Zym 02:42
14. Melodia Na Piec: (Part I,II,III) 03:20
15. Minuet With Hydrocephalus 01:01
16. Pavana Zza Parawana No. 5 01:16
17. (Repeat) Kolysanka Wg. Erika S. 01:17
18. Aria. Contrapuncto 02:14
19. Hymn. Coda. Choral 04:18
20. Melodia Na Piec: (Part III) 01:03
2. A Very Old Mexican Dance 01:07
3. Finale 05:59
4. Con-Trapuncto 01:00
5. Lullaby/Waltz 09:25
6. Introdukja Liliowa 01:11
7. Mazurek 06:48
8. Kolysanka Wg. Erika S. 01:17
9. Marsz 02:48
10. Menuet I 03:01
11. Maly Cmentarz Harf 01:55
12. Waltz Z.K. Minor 03:06
13. Zym-Zym 02:42
14. Melodia Na Piec: (Part I,II,III) 03:20
15. Minuet With Hydrocephalus 01:01
16. Pavana Zza Parawana No. 5 01:16
17. (Repeat) Kolysanka Wg. Erika S. 01:17
18. Aria. Contrapuncto 02:14
19. Hymn. Coda. Choral 04:18
20. Melodia Na Piec: (Part III) 01:03
Lech Jankowski (born April 1, 1956 in Leszno ) is a Polish composer for theater and film music, painter and ethnologist.
His performances combine instruments and music theater as well as elements of visual art.
As a composer he has worked with various theater directors, mainly in Poland.
His paintings, which features elements of magical realism, have been presented in several exhibitions
His performances combine instruments and music theater as well as elements of visual art.
As a composer he has worked with various theater directors, mainly in Poland.
His paintings, which features elements of magical realism, have been presented in several exhibitions
and are parts of private collections in Poland and abroad.
Jankowski has composed music for several short films by influential stop-motion animators Stephen and Timothy Quay,
Jankowski has composed music for several short films by influential stop-motion animators Stephen and Timothy Quay,
aka the Brothers Quay, and also for their first live-action feature-length film
"Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life", released in 1996.
The film is based on the novel "Jakob Von Gunten" (1909), written by Swiss writer Robert Walser.
The plot follows Jakob (Mark Rylance), a young man who enters a training school for servants,
The film is based on the novel "Jakob Von Gunten" (1909), written by Swiss writer Robert Walser.
The plot follows Jakob (Mark Rylance), a young man who enters a training school for servants,
run by brother and sister Johannes (Gottfried John) and Lisa Benjamenta (Alice Krige).
Though the film follows the same basic structure as the novel, its plot is more limited.
The Quays have characterized the film as a parallel universe of the novel.
The film has been described as thematically similar to a fairy tale, a fantasy or a dream world
Though the film follows the same basic structure as the novel, its plot is more limited.
The Quays have characterized the film as a parallel universe of the novel.
The film has been described as thematically similar to a fairy tale, a fantasy or a dream world
and has been compared to Eraserhead due to its unconventional narrative and black-and-white filming style.
Parallels have also been drawn between the film and Expressionist films of the 1920s.
Parallels have also been drawn between the film and Expressionist films of the 1920s.
Lech Jankowski has been one of my favorite composers ever since I discovered his music, like many people do, via the magic realms of the Quay Brothers. Just as the Quays are artists & filmmakers of their own universe, Jankowski's music is equally unique & idiosyncratic. Why more of his compositions are not available both stumps me & frustrates (the one recording I don't own is ONLY available directly from the composer's website - rather expensive, but I'm going to give in soon I've been wanting it for years!) Lech's music for 'Street of Crocodiles' and "Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies" are two of his absolute finest imo. -Cheers
ReplyDeleteSpot on my friend. I believe that composers like Jankowski are yet to be discovered from newer record labels so that they finally make their material available again both on CD and Vinyl. On the other hand i think this soundtrack was originally released on small quantities and the cooperation of these equally outlandish artists, the Quay Brothers with Lech Jankowski, is by itself the answer for this. Maybe his unique and idiosyncratic music, as you stated, pair with his character? Well i do not know, just guessing here, as there are many cases with composers (or artists in general) that just do not want (or just do not care) for their music to be available to a broader audience. "Street Of Crocodiles", "Rehearsals For Extinct Anatomies", "Anamorphosis" and "The Comb" feature excellent musical pieces that match perfectly the short films. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteIndeed this soundtrack can be difficult to find these days, it was a very small quantity release needless to say.
DeleteI listen to it all the time, however more so via the film itself as the Quays are heroes of mine and I watch all of their films over and over and over, thirsting for more. Tragic that with all their brilliance it remains so difficult for them to get enough funding for projects; that will remain the state/result of true uncompromising vision forever and a day. "Institute Benjamenta" took years to do for this reason. "The Piano Tune of Earthquakes" was a film that the Quays started working on and was only fully realized after 10 (!!) years as another example. And I'm sure many more shorts would be available these days if they had the $$$ - breaks my heart. I'm wanting desperately for that which I cannot have. The same can be said for many composers too, there's too many to list.
I actually wrote to several labels about Jankowski's music, including Naxos, Bridge, Toccata, Tzadik, Albany among others. For now we can bask in the beauty & be grateful for what is available. -Cheers
Oh and yes you are correct about Jankowski and his feelings about commercial success or even greater visibility; I've read articles (translated from Polish) and he seems to be indifferent at best. His is such an original voice that it's hard to accept that, but what can one do? Meanwhile I just imagined his music being released on ECM - a wasted thought but just came to me, what a glorious fit that would be!
ReplyDeleteTalking about soundtracks that must be re-released or that never have been released just came to my mind the case of the classic animation Fehérlófia (Son Of The White Mare) by Marcell Jankovics.
ReplyDeleteHow this masterpiece soundtrack by István Vajda has not ever released is just beyond my understanding.
Didn't realize you had replied, sorry. István Vajda I will confess is a new name to me. I take it his work as a composer is almost entirely unsung - did a google search & one of the few things I found was some info on IMDB concerning a few films/tv series that list him as the sound director/dubbing director. I will have to dig deeper, I'm definitely intrigued! Off hand I don't even recall the animator Jankovics, yet I'll bet I have a few of his works on a hdd someplace. -Regards
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/smU5eMU4DBw
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