Polish Accordian Concertos

Since the 1960s the Polish accordion concerto has enjoyed increasing popularity and in recent years no one has inspired more composers to write for the instrument than Klaudiusz Baran. The three most important Polish concertos are showcased in this album. Marcin Błażewicz's concerto possesses a fascinating wealth of colours with spectacular passages and melodic arabesques cast in a richly communicative language. Mikołaj Majkusiak's youthful Concerto Classico is a virtuosic synthesis of old and contemporary forms, while in 1973 Bronisław Przy-bylski wrote a swashbuckling concerto full of the folkloric influence of Polish dances.

Klaudiusz Baran is Poland's leading accordionist and has given over 50 premieres of various solo, chamber and orchestral pieces, most of which were dedicated to or inspired by him. He is the first accordionist to receive the Fryderyk Award for his recording of Piazzolla's music in 2003.