Polish composer and music teacher, b. 2nd May 1913 in Rosko near Czarnków on the Noteć River, d. 20th November 2002 in Poznań. In 1930-39 he studied theory of music with Stefan Bolesław Poradowski and piano with Edward Rezler at Bydgoszcz City Music Conservatory. In 1948, as an extra-mural student, he received a degree in composition from S. B. Poradowski's class at the State Higher School of Music in Poznań. As early as 1945, he organized a secondary music school in Bydgoszcz, in which he taught till 1951. He was co-founder of the State Philharmonic in Bydgoszcz. In 1951-54 he taught theoretical subjects at the State Higher School of Music in Sopot, where he also held the post of rector. From 1954 he was on the faculty of the State Higher School of Music in Poznań, where he gave lectures and taught classes in composition, harmony, instrumentation, contemporary techniques of composition and counterpoint (from 1959 - as an associate professor; in 1973 he was awarded the state title of professor). In 1961-64 he was also vice-rector of that academy.
He was actively engaged in the artistic life of the city of Poznań. He was co-organizer of the "Poznań Music Spring" Festivals of Polish Contemporary Music and repeatedly presided over its Repertoire Committee. From 1968 he was involved in the activity of the “Pro Sinfonika” Young Music-Lovers' Movement, of which he became an honorary member in 1973. From 1997 he was vice-president of the Henryk Wieniawski Poznań Music Society. He was also a member of the Polish Composers' Union, of which he was vice-president of the Managing Board in 1969-75.
He worked as a reviewer and music commentator for many periodicals, including "Gazeta Pomorska", "Słowo Powszechne", "Nurt", "Ruch Muzyczny". For many years he was a member of the editorial board of the "Res Facta" series of music publications.
He received a number of awards for his compositions, e.g.: in 1947 - a prize in the Competition for Composers organized by the Polish Composers' Union in Warsaw for Suita Kujawska [Kujawy Suite] for soprano, 3-part children's choir and small symphony orchestra to folk verses (1946); in 1949 - a prize in the same competition for his cantata Odejście Fryderyka [Frédéric's Farewell] for soprano, mixed choir and orchestra (1949); in 1963 - a prize at the Festival of Theaters from Northern Poland for his music to Stanisław Wyspiański's drama Noc listopadowa [November Night]. Dąbrowski was also twice honored with the Artistic Award of the City of Poznań (1965, 1975), three times - with the Minister of Culture and Arts Award (1967, 1975 and - for outstanding didactic and educational achievements - in 1980), the award of the Polish Composers' Union for the whole of his oeuvre (1979), the Main Prize of the Cultural Society of Wielkopolska (1979).
Chorale – Passacaglia – Fugue for violin and piano (1939)
Stabat Mater for mixed choir (1940)
Kujawy Suite for soprano, 3-part children’s choir and small symphony orchestra to folk verses (1946)
Litany to the Holy Virgin Mary [1st version] for solo soprano, female-voice choir and symphony orchestra (1947)
Frédéric's Farewell - a cantata for soprano, mixed choir and orchestra (1949)
Symphonic Suite (1950)
Children’s Little Music for symphony orchestra (1952)
Ballet Sketches for orchestra (1953-54)
Missa brevis for mixed choir (1954)
Concert Overture for orchestra (1955)
Nocturne for symphony orchestra (1956)
Triptych for orchestra (1956)
Lyrical Scenes for solo voices, recyting voices, choir and chamber orchestra (1957-58)
Nocturne for chamber ensemble (1959)
Soldiers - a cantata for reciting voice, baritone, mixed choir and orchestra (1960)
Symphonic Overture (1961)
Contrasts for symphony orchestra (1962-63)
Canon for percussion (1965)
Concerto for solo violin, percussion and two pianos (1965)
Rhythms and Colours for percussion and piano (1965)
Three Pieces for violin and piano (1966)
Quinquepartitum 66 for symphony orchestra (1966)
Lyrical Cantata for soprano, mixed choir, piano and percussion (1966)
Piano Concerto No. 1 (1966-67)
Evocation Symphonique (1967)
Children’s Songs for soprano and chamber orchestra (1967-68)
Songs of Bilitis for soprano and percussion (1968)
Koncert fortepianowy nr 2 (1970)
Solemn Music for symphony orchestra (1972)
Laudate Dominum for mixed choir (1974)
Sonata for violin and piano (1974)
Hymn for mixed choir (1975)
Soggetto for 3 mixed choirs (1975)
Ballad for 3 mixed choirs (1975)
Litany to the Holy Virgin Mary [2nd version] for solo soprano, female-voice choir and symphony orchestra (1976)
Symphony (1979-81)
Ave Maria for mixed choir (1980)
Hymn to the Black Madonna for solo soprano, female-voice choir and symphony orchestra (1980-81)
Clouds for soprano and piano (1981)
Holy God for voice and piano (1982)
Awaiting, a song cycle for soprano and piano (1982-83)
Celansstimmen [1st version], a song cycle for baritone and piano (1986)
Celansstimmen [2nd version], a song cycle for baritone and orchestra (1987)
Dedications “Afieromata”, a song cycle for soprano and piano (1987)
Seven Songs [1st version], a cycle for soprano and piano (1989-90)
Seven Songs [wersja II], a cycle for soprano, string orchestra and harp (1990-91)
Stankiewicz Jerzy, Dąbrowski Florian, In: PWM Encyclopaedia of Music - biographical section, ed. by Elżbieta Dziębowska, vol. "CD", PWM, Kraków 1984
Tarnawska-Kaczorowska Krystyna (red.), Melos - Logos - Ethos. Proceedings of a Symposium Devoted to F. Dąbrowski's, S. Kisielewski's and Z. Mycielski's Works, ZKP, Warszawa 1987
Stankiewicz Jerzy, Dąbrowski Florian, In: PWM Encyclopaedia of Music - biographical section, ed. by Elżbieta Dziębowska, vol. "CD-Supplement", PWM, Kraków 2001
Alojzy Andrzej Łuczak, Florian Dąbrowski - kompozytor i obywatel,
Zdzisław Pruss, Alicja Weber, Rajmund Kuczma, Bydgoski leksykon muzyczny,
