ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born in Lvov, Poland, in 1908, he studied at the Conservatory of Lvov under Dr. Adam Soltys (composition), Witold Friemann (piano), Mme Tomaszewska and Dr. Jozef Koffler (theory). After overstraining his left hand at the age of 18 he dropped the idea of becom­ing a concert pianist and took an academic course, at the end of which he obtained the degree of Master in Law in 1934. He worked for Polish Radio from 1930. He wrote over 300 light songs and incidental music for the stage and radio either for piano or small orchestra.

In 1940 he found himself in the Polish Armed Forces in Scotland, from 1942 to 1944 in the Polish Air Force and left in the rank of Flying Officer. In January 1945 he entered the Royal Academy of Music in London and continued his studies under Theodore Holland (composition), Hugh Clifford and William Alwyn (orchestration) and Ernest Reid (conducting), obtaining in 1950 the Certificate of Merit and Gold Medal.

He settled in London and became a naturalized British subject. He was a music critic to Polish papers published abroad and worked in the External Service of the BBC. In 1956 the Directors of the Royal Academy of Music “elected” him “an Associate of this Royal and National Institution”. In 1962 he obtained the degree of Doctor of Musicology.

He composed mainly songs and piano music, among them a Piano Concerto, and several works for a symphony orchestra.