Henryk Górecki, 1933-2010

Polish composer Henryk Górecki, most famous for his “Symphony No. 3,” died earlier today after a long struggle with illness.

“Symphony No. 3″ — also known as “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs” — was one of those pieces of music for me, the kind that forever changes the way you see music, art, and even life. It’s one of my favorite pieces of music, but it’s so overwhelming and devastating that I rarely listen to it. Nevertheless, it had a huge impact on my life, and I will be forever grateful to Górecki (may he rest in peace) for it.