Scenes for cello, harp and orchestra (1976–1977)

Tadeusz Baird himself gave the most important information about his favourite work:

I wrote the Scenes (conversation, dispute and reconciliation) for cello, harp and orchestra in 1977, following a private commission from Helga and Klaus Storck, to whom the piece is dedicated. The work, which last about 18 minutes, is played without any break, but it does consist of three varied parts (or, to put it even better, “scenes”), which could be described as “a conversation, a dispute and a reconciliation".

Scenes, Tadeusz Baird talking to Grzegorz Michalski (fragment of a television programme, "A music lover's Tuesday", 1978)

The first performers of the work were the composer’s friends – Mr and Mrs Storck. The rich and varied orchestral line-up enabled Baird to implement his intended dramatic plan – to present three scenes from the life of a married couple, scenes that constitute the work’s successive phases: I. Conversation, II. Dispute, III. Reconciliation. Two opposing characters (“male” – the cello, “female” – the harp) interact, making the outer phases quiet and contemplative and the middle phase – energetic and dramatic.

Despite its substantial line-up and length, the work is marked by a light and impressionistic sound. By softening the sound, abandoning noisy and brutal means of expression as well as indicating clear points of reference in the organisation of the sound material (notes A and E), the composer emphasised his turn towards a “new romantic character”.

Scenes - fragment; performers: Helga Storck - harp, Klaus Storck - cello, Polish Radio and Television Orchestra, Antoni Wit - conductor (fragment of a television programme, "A music lover's Tuesday", 1978)