Komeda, Krzysztof

(Krzysztof Trzciński, 1931-1969)

   Film composer mostly known for his music in Roman Polanski's films. A physician by training, Komeda gained prominence in Poland playing cool jazz with his group Komeda Sextet. His film scores for Polanski's short films, such as Two Men with a Wardrobe (1958) and When Angels Fall (1959), were followed by his now-classic jazzy score for Polanski's debut film, Knife in the Water (1962). Komeda continued his successful collaboration with Polański on his later films made abroad, including Cul-de-sac (1966) and Rosemary's Baby (1968), which became perhaps his best-known film score. In the 1960s, Komeda also composed music for films made by, among others, Andrzej Wajda (Innocent Sorcerers, 1960), Janusz Nasfeter (The Criminal and the Maiden, 1963, Unloved, 1966), Jerzy Hoffman and Edward Skórzewski (Law and Fist, 1964), and Jerzy Skolimowski (7he Barrier, 1966, Hands Up, 1967). His premature death at the age of thirty-eight interrupted his flourishing international career.

   Historical Dictionary of Polish Cinema by Marek Haltof