Joanna Ławrynowicz, piano
Acte Préalable 2005
[Flacs & booklet]
Even in his native Poland Władysław Żeleński is remembered mostly as the father of Tadeusz 'Boy'Żeleński, a free-thinker, translator (of French classics, including also philosophers like Descartes), poet, literary critic, women rights spokesman and anti-church activist. His father, whose music is presented here, seems to have been a conservative... I recommend listening at least to the solemn 'March in Honour of the Immortal National Bard Adam Mickiewicz' (who, which always made me laugh, starts the most important Polish epic poem with the words 'Lithuania, my country!') and to the well-rounded Sonata in E minor.Żeleński's Piano Concerto and Piano Quartet have appeared from Hyperion in excellent recordings. In Poland he is mostly known from songs and solo organ preludes. He seemed to have a real knack for effective two-part counterpoint, which might be a weird thing to say about a 'real' composer, but which I take to be evident in the (middle of the) last movement of the Piano Sonata included here.
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