JÓZEF KOFFLER (1896-1944): Symphony No. 2, Op. 17, Piano Concerto, Op. 13 (Daniel Wnukowski [piano], Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra; Christoph Slowinski), String Quartet No. 2, Op. 27 “Ukrainian Sketches” (Polish String Quartet Berlin), 2 Songs, Op. 1, 4 poèmes, Op. 22 (Fredrika Brillembourg [mezzo], Slowinski [piano] Texts and translations available online).

Description: The first recordings of orchestral works by this Polish-Ukrainian composer murdered by the Nazis after deportation from the Lvov ghetto. Possibly the first composer in Poland representing the Second Viennese School, Koffler combined his use of dodecaphony with a lively rhythmic verve and a neo-classical instrumental style, the three movements of his 1932 concerto - Toccata, Notturno and Krakowiak - showing his loyalties to traditional genres. The 1933 symphony is especially colorful with both jazz and blues hinted at and a transparent Gallic orchestration. Standing apart is the 1941 Ukrainian Sketches, six brief movements lasting barely eight minutes, which he wrote in the Socialist Realist style demanded by the Soviet government then in possession of Lwow.