Mieczysław Weinberg’s Symphony No. 8, Kwiaty polskie [Polish Flowers], Op. 83 (1964): A Choral Symphony Exploring Poland’s History and Spirit

This dissertation explores Mieczysław Weinberg’s Symphony No. 8, Kwiaty polskie [Polish Flowers], Op. 83 (1964). Weinberg’s life was shaped by displacement and resilience. The Polish-born composer fled Nazi-occupied Poland in 1939 and found refuge in Moscow, where he became a close friend of Dmitri Shostakovich. The 58-minute symphony, scored for tenor soloist, mixed chorus, and orchestra, sets texts from Julian Tuwim’s epic poem Polish Flowers, and powerfully addresses the adversities faced by Poland during the war period.This dissertation weaves together historical contextualization, musical analysis, and cultural exploration. The core of my analysis involves a detailed examination of the symphony’s structure, musical themes, and influences. The dissertation also explores Weinberg’s life journey, his many other choral symphonies, and the genesis, performance history, and legacy of Symphony No. 8. My research attempts to illuminate the intricate interplay between Tuwim’s poems and Weinberg’s music, and tries to shed light on the poet’s and composer’s explorations of identity amid displacement. I also discuss cross-cultural influences on Symphony No. 8, including Jewish and Polish music elements, as well as the symphony’s resonance with Polish history and cultural expression. In Appendix A, I have provided first-ever poetic English translations of the symphony’s texts, a potentially important element in promoting international appreciation of and interest in this remarkable work.