Classical music composer Krzysztof Penderecki, whose work was featured in films by Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese, has died.

He was 86.

Penderecki passed away on Sunday at his home in Krakow after a long illness.

R.I.P.: Classical music composer and celebrated conductor Krzysztof Penderecki, whose work was featured in films by Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese, has died. He was 86

In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, the Ludwig van Beethoven Association called Penderecki a 'Great Pole, an outstanding creator and a humanist'.

The composer and award-winning conductor was best known for his monumental compositions for orchestra and choir, like St. Luke Passion and Seven Gates of Jerusalem.

His work was used on the soundtracks to Hollywood movies The Shining, The Exorcist and Shutter's Island and he also collaborated on rock music with Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood.

Greenwood tweeted Sunday: 'What sad news to wake to. 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.'

Acclaimed: Penderecki was best known for his compositions for orchestra and choir, like St. Luke Passion and Seven Gates of Jerusalem, and won several Grammy Awards

Across genres: His work was used on the soundtracks to Hollywood movies The Shining, The Exorcist and Shutter's Island and he collaborated with Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood

Sad news: Rock musician Greenwood paid tribute to the composer and conductor via Twitter

Penderecki won a number of Grammy Awards and in 1968 the Recording Academy awarded him the special merit National Trustees Award.

In 1988, he won a Grammy for the recording of his 2nd Concerto for Cello and in 1999 he won again for his 2nd Violin Concerto, Metamorphosen.

In 2017, he won another Grammy for best choral performance in recognition of the Penderecki Conducts Penderecki album.

Penderecki was also an educator, opening a music center near his home and mentoring young musicians, giving them the opportunity to play with world-famous masters.

Polish Culture Minister Piotr Glinski tweeted: 'Poland's culture has suffered a huge and irreparable loss.'

He added that Penderecki was the nation's 'most outstanding contemporary composer whose music could be heard around the globe, from Japan to the United States.'

He is survived by his second wife, Elzbieta, who as a girl was a piano student of his first wife Barbara, and by daughters Beata and Dominika and son Lukasz.

His ashes will be buried in the National Pantheon, the crypt of Krakow's St. Peter and Paul Church, according to the head of the pantheon's foundation.

The funeral is being postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.