Chopin University Press - Ignacy Zalewski: Accordion Works (2022) Hi-Res

The monographic album with accordion pieces by Ignacy Zalewski is closely related to the person of an outstanding virtuoso of this instrument, prof. Klaudiusz Baran - the initiator, author of the concept of the album, as well as the first performer of almost all compositions presented here. The artist is accompanied by outstanding musicians: Justyna Baran (violin), Paweł Gusnar (saxophone), Leszek Lorent (drums), as well as Rafał Grząka and Grzegorz Palus, with whom he creates the Chopin University Accordion Trio and the Chopin University Chamber Orchestra conducted by the composer.

With the exception of Toccata for alto saxophone and accordion - a small composition, but extremely intense in terms of emotions and compositional means, the selected repertoire includes non-musical references. The Pastiche Rhapsody from Lviv with an epilogue for violin and piano, using a quote from the song Only in Lviv, follows the pre-war culture of this city. Zły according to Tyrmand for accordion, percussion and orchestra allude to the dark atmosphere of post-war Warsaw, emerging from the novel by Leopold Tyrmand. Fantasy-synopsis based on motifs from Stanisław Moniuszko's opera "Halka" for three accordions is the composer's tribute to the father of the national opera, whose work has been explored and popularized for years.