Photo: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress) / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Karol Szymanowski, born on October 3, 1882 in Tymoshivka, Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine, was a composer, music educator and university teacher. Death is recorded on March 29, 1937, at the age of 54. Listed accolades include Order of St. Sava, Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Literature, Gold Cross of Merit and 5 more. Credited works include 3 Paganini Caprices and Symphony No. 3.
My Take
Szymanowski is one of those composers I genuinely wish more people had on their radar, because his story is fascinating and his music rewards every minute you give it. Born in 1882 in what's now Ukraine into a Polish artistic family, he came up in that rich late-Romantic hothouse and eventually found his own voice by absorbing impressionism, orientalism, and ancient Greek mythology before pivoting hard into Polish folk music in his final years. Symphony No. 3 "Song of the Night" is achingly gorgeous, and his violin works are some of the most sensual things written in the 20th century. He also ran the Warsaw Conservatory through brutal political headwinds. He died at 54 in 1937, just before the world fell apart — a loss that still feels genuinely unfair given where he was heading.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Karol Szymanowski
- Name (Japanese)
- カロル・シマノフスキ
- Reading
- かろる・しまのふすき
- Born
- October 3, 1882 – March 29, 1937
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Horse
- Origin
- Tymoshivka, Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine
- Occupation
- composer / music educator / university teacher / pianist / author
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- Order of St. Sava
- Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Literature
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Order of the White Eagle
- commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | 3 Paganini Caprices |
| Notable work | Symphony No. 3 |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Karol Szymanowski born?
Born October 3, 1882.
When did Karol Szymanowski die?
Died March 29, 1937, aged 54.
Where was Karol Szymanowski from?
Karol Szymanowski was from Tymoshivka, Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine.
What did Karol Szymanowski do?
Karol Szymanowski worked as composer, music educator, university teacher, pianist, author.
What was Karol Szymanowski known for?
Notable works include 3 Paganini Caprices, Symphony No. 3.
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