The music world lost a true giant on Sunday, as GRAMMY-winning composer conductor Krzysztof Penderecki died at the age of 86. Best known for the use of his works in such classic films as William Friedkin's The Exorcist, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining and Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island as well as David Lynch's "Twin Peaks," many heard Penderecki's signature dissonant compositions, developed early in his career, without knowing it. But he also went on to broaden his musical range, landing him in the top tier of composers and conductors of his time.

Born in Polland in 1933, Penderecki made a name for himself in his 20s with his atonal works such as his 1960 piece Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima, an avant-garde piece for 52 strings which earned the young composer the UNESCO award, the first of many critical accolades he would earn. In 1968, he was the recipient of the Recording Academy Trustee's Award.

In 1972 he started his conducting career with the London Symphony Orchestra, recording at Abbey Road studios, and the Polish National Symphony Orchestra. He also accepted guest residencies in Germany in and, later, at Yale University in the '70s. He won his first career GRAMMY Award for 1987 for Best Contemporary Composition for Penderecki: Cello Concerto No. 2. He'd go on to win three additional GRAMMY Awards and earn a total of eight nominations in his career.

Penderecki's influence was far reaching in the music world. Radiohead guitarist Johnny Greenwood tweeted, "Penderecki was the greatest - a fiercely creative composer, and a gentle, warm-hearted man. My condolences to his family, and to Poland on this huge loss to the musical world."

Greenwood, who names Penderecki as an inspiration for some of his own orchestral music, namely his score for the film There Will Be Blood, told NPR in 2012, "I saw him doing these very peculiar sounds, and it was all notated on paper. And yet an orchestra turned it into a strange, otherworldly collection of textures. And I loved it. And then when I saw it live, I really loved it. It was 100 times better than the recordings, and I've been obsessed ever since."

The Polish Ministry of Affairs announced his death on Sunday, though no cause of death was given. Penderecki is survived by his wife of more than five decades, Elzbieta, and by his son and two daughters.

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