Beyond the Notes: Urszula Janiszewska’s Rhapsody as a Reflection of Life and Resilience
- WOMCO
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
Urszula Janiszewska was a Merit Composer of the Season winner in the Original Composition category at the 2025 Season I International Music Leadership Award.
Could you share the inspiration behind this work and the message you hope to convey through it?
In today’s world, I encounter great injustice at every step.
Some people have everything without any effort, others have to work hard for it.
Some have talent, others have money. Despite incredible technological development, health can not be bought for any amount of money. There are people who are seriously ill and struggle with their illness every day. There are also those who are healthy and do not appreciate that they can get up in the morning, work and implement their plans. Rhapsody is a story about those people who are fighting for a better tomorrow.
In this composition I also talk about my everyday struggles. I would like this piece to be an inspiration for everyone to achieve their goals and dreams.
What was your creative process like while composing RHAPSODY? How did you approach the structure and dynamics of the piece? Do you feel differently when performing a piece that you composed yourself?
The piece consists of several fragments. I started composing the piece with a very calm introduction, which only later leads to the presentation of the first theme in the piece. The second part of the Rhapsody is kept at a faster tempo and built on a constantly developing 4-note motive that increases the tension.
Before the climactic fragment, descending progressions appear, based on the sounds of the dominant ninth. This dissonance of the chord strongly builds tension with the dynamics of the crescendo. In the climax of the piece I used seemingly simple chord structures, but they evoke so much expression that many people are moved by this dose of emotion. The last fragment is a coda in piano dynamics, which is supposed to bring relief after the stormy culmination. When I perform Rhapsody I feel similar emotions to those I experienced while writing it. At first I try to play gently and gradually build up the tension. It is a picture of everyday struggle. In the climax many extreme emotions appear: power, anger, rage, helplessness. This climax shows how a person reaches the end of his endurance, hence such an extreme outburst of emotions.
After every storm comes the sun and relief, which is why the last part of the piece is a musical breath.
How do you feel about the response to your composition, and are there any particular emotions or reactions you'd like listeners to experience when they hear it performed?
The piece Rhapsody carries a large dose of emotion, which I convey by performing the composition myself. Often listeners also experience strong emotions while listening. Some even cry from emotion.
It’s amazing feeling for a composer when his piece reaches the hearts of listeners so strongly. I never dictate to anyone how they should perceive my composition.
It is a very personal experience and a very subjective perception.
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and thank anyone (such as mentors, supporters, or other team members)?
I am very happy that I can take part in competitions organized by WOMCO.
It is a great honor for me that my works are receiving awards.
I would like to thank my friends for motivating me to act. Thank you for Karolina and Małgorzata. They were the ones who convinced me not to write piece to the drawer, but to show them to the world. I would like to express my great gratitude to my husband, who supports my musical passion and is always with me.
Music has always been an important part of my life. When I was 10 years old I started learning to play the piano and violin. In the years 2003-2008 I studied music theory at the Academy of Music in Wrocław (Poland). From an early age I liked to improvise and create, so over time I started writing my own compositions.
Last year I won 40 awards in international music competitions, 21 awards in competitions organized by WOMCO. Awards were given to various of my compositions in the categories of original composition, film music, chamber music, solo piece and piece for orchestra. In August 2024, I won the Summer Music Scene competition and received an award from the mayor of Oława. I perform compositions alone or with the accompaniment of an orchestra. I have recorded 3 albums with my pieces (Spirituals compositions, Lyrical, Musical dreams), which are available on music platforms – You tube music, Spotify, Apple music. I am currently creating a music project to perform piano pieces at concerts accompanied by a chamber ensemble.
