More New Polish Music for String Quartet and Orchestra

KRZYSZTOF LENCZOWSKI (b.1986): Iława, Namysłowiak, DAWID LUBOWICZ (b.1981): Ballad on the Death of Janosik, MIKOŁAJ GÓRECKI (b.1971): Concerto notturno for Violin and String Orchestra, GRAŻYNA BACEWICZ (1909-1969): Concerto for String Orchestra, KAROL SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937): String Quartet No. 2, Op. 56 (arr. String Orchestra Richard Tognetti [b.1965]).

Description: This is an attractive programme, full of verve, and rather more geared toward collectors of 20th century concert music than our previous offering from these players (02U060). Szymanowski's great 2nd Quartet is presented in a skillful and inventive transcription for string orchestra by Australian composer-conductor-violinist Richard Tognetti, likely for his renowned Australian Chamber Orchestra for which he has done a number of highly successful arrangements of this type. The work is an attractive, earthy one from Szymanowski's late, folk influenced period, and Tognetti has enriched the textures in the variations and added heft to the fugue without changing the essential character of the music. The conductor's transcription of the raucous dance from the final scene of Harnasie, from the same period of Szymanowski's output, fits perfectly as a companion to the quartet. Bacewicz' muscular, bracing Concerto is a splendid piece, nothing like as well known as it should be, combining neoclassical elegance of form with an exciting, appealing modern tonal harmonic palette. The Górecki is a very approachable piece, a miniature violin concerto in three movements which, in its very romantic, almost sentimental first movement and new spirituality-meets new-age finale is quite close to the ATOM quartet's regular repertoire. The motoric central movement is a bit harder-edged. Lubowicz and Lenczowski take folk songs and while Lubowicz dresses his up with the quartet's customary jazz embellishments, to lively and appealing effect, Lenczowski's transcription of the melancholy Iława is much straighter and more restrained. His other work, a tribute to jazz musician Zbigniew Namysłowski, is energetic ensemble jazz. Atom String Quartet, NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra; Christian Danowicz (violin).