Karol Szymanowski

Polish composer Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937).
Szymanowski was a self-taught musician. In the Tatra highlands he found inspiration for his creative work. He was among the most influential composers of the 20th century.
His works can be devided chronologically into three periods; romantic, impressionist and popular (i.e. 'Polish').
The first of these, characterized by the influence of Wagner, Richard Strauss and Max Reger, lasted until 1914 and corresponds neatly with the time when Szymanowski was attempting to establish himself in Vienna, where he lived in 1911-1912.
The second, marked by a stylistic empathy with Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and late Scriabin, also testifies to the composer's interest in Mediterranean and North African cultures.
The last period, starting in the early 1920s, features a return to national sources and Polish folklore.