composer; b. 1st January 1927 in Brzeźnica near Radomsko; d. 17th October 2020 in Kraków. In 1947-52 he studied musicology with Zdzisław Jachimecki at the Jagellonian University. Simultaneously, in 1947-56, he studied theory of music with Aleksander Frączkiewicz (degree in 1955), composition with Stanisław Wiechowicz (degree in 1956), piano with Sergiusz Nadgryzowski and Jan Hoffman and organ with Józef Chwedczuk at the State Higher School of Music in Cracow. He continued his training in Paris in 1958-59 studying composition with Nadia Boulanger and Max Deutsch as well as participating in Olivier Messiaen's seminars. He also took part in the International Courses for Composers in Darmstadt in 1959. Since his graduation, he had been solely occupied with composition.

He received numerous awards for his compositions, including: in 1958 – 1st prize for Szkic symfoniczny nr 4 [Symphonic Sketch No.4] for orchestra (1957) and 2nd prize for Allegro symfoniczne [Symphonic Allegro] for orchestra (1957) in the Competition for Students Graduating in Composition; in 1960 – Silver Medal in the International Competition for Composers in Vercelli for Sen kwietny [Floral Dream – version 1] – five songs to words by J. Przyboś for voice and piano (1959); in 1962 – the Netherlands Radio Award in the International Competition for Composers in the Netherlands for Pour un Ensemble for reciting voice and 24 string instruments (1961); in 1968 – 2nd prize in the Grzegorz Fitelberg Competition for Composers for Poème de Loire – five French songs for soprano and symphony orchestra (1968); in 1972 – an honorable mention in the same competition for Skrzydła i ręce [Wings and Hands] for baritone and symphony orchestra (1972); in 1974 – Prix de Composition Musicale Prince Rainier III de Monaco in the International Competition for Composers in Monaco for Portraits Lyriques for mezzo-soprano, 2 violins, violoncello and piano (1974); in 1982 – 2nd prize in the Competition for an Organ Work in Gambaronyo Lago Maggiore for Preludia Maryjne [Marian Preludes] for organ (1982).

Juliusz Łuciuk was also granted the Prime Minister's Award for piano works for children (1976), the City of Cracow Award (1983), Friar Albert Award for achievements in the field of sacred music (1983), the Cracow Province Governor's Award (1992), the Minister of Culture and Arts Award (1995), the Prize of the President of the City of Częstochowa (1997), the Award of the Polish Composers' Union (1998), the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross (2001), the Special Award of the Minister of Culture (2004), the Medal of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (2004), the MERENTIBUS Medal of the city of Częstochowa (2015), the Silver Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis(2015), the "Polonia Minoris" Medal (2016). In 2019 he was made an honorary member of the Polish Composers' Union.

updated: 2020 (ac)

Three Songs to Poems by Leopold Staff for soprano and piano (1954)

Virginia Creeper, cantata for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1955)

Capriccio for violin and piano (1956)

Sonata for bassoon and piano (1956)

Sonata for clarinet and piano (1956)

Four Miniatures for piano (1957)

Symphonic Sketches for orchestra (1957)

Symphonic Sketch No. 4 for orchestra (1957)

Symphonic Allegro for orchestra (1958)

Floral Dream [1st version], 5 songs to poems by Julian Przyboś for voice and piano (1959)

Composition for four orchestral ensembles (1960)

Floral Dream [2nd version], 5 songs to poems by Julian Przyboś for voice and 12 instruments (1960)

Pour un Ensemble for reciting voice and 24 string instruments (1961)

Enfiando for symphony orchestra (1962)

Niobe, ballet-pantomime in 1 act for mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1962)

Children’s Improvisations for piano (1962)

Melorhythms for orchestra (1962)

Marathon, pantomime for prepared piano (1963)

Lirica di timbri for prepared piano (1963)

Pacem in terris for female voice and prepared piano (1964)

A Dress, mime-drama for prepared piano and chamber ensemble (1965)

A Tool Made of Light [1st version] for baritone and symphony orchestra (1966)

A Tool Made of Light [2nd version] for baritone and piano (1966)

Four Sonatinas for piano (1966-69)

Brand – Peer Gynt, mime-drama for 2 prepared pianos and chamber ensemble (1967)

Passacaglia for prepared piano (1968)

Poème de Loire, 5 French songs for soprano and symphony orchestra (1968)

Speranza Sinfonica for orchestra (1969)

Kaszëbë for solo voice, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1969)

Lamentazioni in memoriam Grażyna Bacewicz for orchestra (1970)

November Night’s Dream ,choreo-drama for instrumental ensemble (1971)

Wind-Poems for baritone and chamber ensemble (1971)

Contemplazioni per soprano ed organo (1971)

When 5 Years Have Passed, ballet-pantomime for soprano, prepared piano and chamber ensemble (1972)

Wings and Hands for baritone and symphony orchestra (1972)

Euridice’s Death ,one-part ballet for mezzo-soprano and small symphony orchestra (1972)

Concertino for piano and small symphony orchestra (1973)

Orpheus’ Love, opera-ballet for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra (1973)

Warsaw Legend - quasi Lullaby for symphony orchestra (1974)

Portraits lyriques for soprano, 2 violins, cello and piano (1974)

Missa Gratiarum Actione per coro misto (1974)

Medea, ballet in 1 act for soprano, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (1975)

Three Highland Robber Songs for tenor and mixed unaccompanied choir (1975)

Demiurgos, opera in 1 act for soloists, mixed choir and chamber ensemble (1976)

Francis of Assisi, oratorio for soprano, tenor, baritone, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1976)

Hymnus de Caritate per coro misto a cappella (1977)

Image for solo organ (1977)

Three Old Women for mixed unaccompanied choir (1977)

In Sycamore Wood for piano (1977)

Monologues and Dialogues for soprano recorders (1977)

Arabesque for piano (1978)

Song of Hope about a Slavic Pope for mixed unaccompanied choir (1978)

The Penitent from Osyak, music to Roman Brandstaetter’s drama for soloists, mixed choir, men’s choir, prepared piano, flute and percussion (1979)

Wicker, 5 pieces for chamber string orchestra (1979)

Variations for cello and piano (1980)

Quattro Antiphonae per coro maschile a cappella (1980-84)

Hymnus de Sancto Norberto for boys’ or women’s choir (1982)

Marian Preludes for organ (1982)

Seasons of Life for soprano and piano (1982)

Three Passion Songs for soprano and organ (1982)

Marian Suite for mixed unaccompanied choir (1983)

Three Miniatures for violin and piano (1984)

Polish Litany for soloists, mixed choir and string orchestra (1984)

Apocalypsis per solo soprano, alto, tenore, baritono e coro misto (1985)

Partes Variabiles for children’s or women’s unaccompanied choir with organ or string orchestra (1985)

Concerto per contrabasso ed orchestra (1986)

Arabesque No. 2 for 2 pianos (1987)

O, Polish Land for mixed unaccompanied choir (1987)

Vesperae in Assumptione Beatae Mariae Virginis per coro maschile (1987-89)

Ostra Brama for mixed choir (1989)

Praise the Lord, psalm for men’s choir (1989)

Ballata per chitarra (1990)

Prayer to St Jan Kanty for mixed choir (1990)

Magnificat per coro misto (1990)

Pilgrim for mixed choir (1990)

M – Allegretto for 4 pianos (1991)

Oremus pro pontifice Joanne Paulo Secundo per coro misto (1992)

Antiphones for mixed choir (1992)

Tripticum Paschale for organ (1993)

Polish Mass for mezzo-soprano, mixed choir and wind orchestra (1993)

Hommage à quelqu’un for solo guitar and string orchestra (1993)

L’Inscription for mixed choir (1994)

Four Religious Songs for solo voice and piano or organ (1994)

Slavonic Sonnet XV for baritone, mixed choir and wind orchestra (1995)

Slavonic Sonnet IX for mixed choir (1995)

Gesang am Brunnen, oratorio for soprano, tenor, baritone, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (1996)

Hymn of Praise for mixed choir (1996)

Sanctus Adalbertus Flos Purpureus, history in song of St Adalbert’s life and martyr’s death for mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1997)

Anniversary Cantata for soprano, tenor and wind orchestra (1998)

Litany to the Mother of God in the Image from Supraśl for alto, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (1998-99)

St Kinga, song for the canonisation ceremony of Queen Kinga for mixed unaccompanied choir (1999)

Christ Pantocrator, oratorio for soprano, alto, tenor, mixed choir and symphony orchestra (2000)

Blessed Martyr Sisters for female choir (2000)

Consecrazione for solo organ (2003)

The Stream of God, oratorio for mezzosoprano, baritone, mixed choir and symphony orchestra to the first part of "Roman Triptych" by John Paul II (2004)

About Saint Clare of Assisi, four songs for female choir (2004)

Vilnius triptych "Three Romantic Songs" for mezzo-soprano and piano (2005)

Pre-Sacrament. Meditations on the Origin of Love for solo voice (2005)

Meditations on the Book of Genesis at the Threshold of the Sistine Chapel, oratorio for mezzo-soprano, baritone and piano to the second part of "Roman Triptych" by John Paul II (2006)

Spełnienie for string trio (2012)

Omaggio a l’aquila for soprano, bass and string decet (2013)

A Hill in the Land of Moria, oratorio for mezzosoprano, baritone, choir and orchestra to the third part of "Roman Triptych" by John Paul II  (2016)

Chrenkoff Magdalena, Juliusz Łuciuk's Oratorio St. Francis of Assisi [Oratorium Św. Franciszek z Asyżu Juliusza Łuciuka], in: The Cracow School of Composition 1888-1988 [Krakowska szkoła kompozytorska 1888-1988] (ed. by Teresa Malecka), Akademia Muzyczna w Krakowie, Kraków 1993

Negrey Maciej, Łuciuk Juliusz, in: The PWM Encyclopaedia of Music - biographical part, ed. by Elżbieta Dziębowska [Encyklopedia Muzyczna PWM (część biograficzna pod red. Elżbiety Dziębowskiej)], vol. "klł", PWM, Kraków 1997

Negrey Maciej, Juliuszowi Łuciukowi na jubileusz, „Kwarta” 2005 nr 14, s. 8-9

Majka Grzegorz, Poszukując sztuki autentycznej, "Ruch Muzyczny" 2006 nr 26, s.8-11.

Powołaniem twórcy jest tworzenie piękna, "Muzyka21" 2007 nr 7/8, s. 51-54

Majka Grzegorz, Kreowanie dramaturgii, "Twoja Muza" 2007 nr 4, s. 20-21