ABSTRACT

Generally speaking, most of the thematic concepts in Panufnik’s early works have as their reference classical models of phrase construction (like most of his Polish contemporaries, Panufnik was still writing in the style of neo-classicism at this time). Panufnik’s themes, however, are not clearly situated within a specific key and therefore lack the traditionally understood devices for creating and releasing tension. An additional element that often intentionally blurs the tonal clarity, in works such as Sinfonia Rustica, is the use of narrow-ambit melodies. Combined with the lack – even a complete absence – of a tonal complement in other voices brought about by the introduction of a large number of dissonances, additional difficulties arise for tonal identification.