Mateusz Kowalski – Polish Romantic Guitar Works

Contents

Szczepanowski: Une Larme. Morceau Expresif

Chopin: Mazurka No. 6 in A minor, Op. 7 No. 2

Bobrowicz: Variations on a Ukrainian Song, Op. 7

Chopin: Mazurka No. 5 in B flat major, Op. 7 No. 1

Bobrowicz: Distraction – Rondeau Brillant et Facile, Op. 17

Horecki: Fantasy, Op. 40

Sokołowski: The Post – A Musical Image

Bobrowicz: Variations on ‘La ci darem la mano’ from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Op. 6

Chopin:

Mazurka No. 8 in A flat minor, Op. 7 No. 4

Mazurka No. 3 in E major, Op. 6 No. 3

Mazurka No. 7 in F minor, Op. 7 No. 3

Mazurka No. 4 in E flat minor, Op. 6 No. 4

Mazurka No. 2 in C sharp minor, Op. 6 No. 2

Mazurka No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 6 No. 1

Sokołowski: Etude In D major

Szczepanowski: Variations on ‘Poland Has Not Yet Perished’

Polish romantic guitar music interpreted by an eminent guitar virtuoso, Mateusz Kowalski. It is not popular knowledge that these were the Poles who contributed significantly to the fame and popularity of the guitar in its capacity of a virtuoso instrument holding an important place in the art of music. Masters of interpretation, improvisation, and composition captivated the highest echelons of the creme de la creme, connoisseurs of all things beautiful, and broad audiences. Hailed the king of the guitar, Stanis 322;aw Szczepanowski used to play for the British Queen Victoria, Marek Konrad Soko 322;owski enjoyed the moniker of the Byron of guitar and Jan Nepomucen Bobrowicz was recognised by his contemporaries as, believe it or not, the Chopin of the guitar. This new CD contains Chopins Mazurkas transcribed for the guitar by Jan Nepomucen Bobrowicz, and the great Poles Variations on a theme from Mozarts Don Giovanni (La ci darem la mano), Marek Sokolowskis and Felix Horeckis miniatures, and Stanislaw Szczepanowskis Variations on the theme of the Polish anthem, whose concept must have been born while the composer was improvising at a Polish emigre reunion in Paris, whose main hero was Adam Mickiewicz himself. The album is a rare gem not only for the contemporary aficionados of the guitar. It is another memorable recording in the Institutes catalogue, important for the extremely valuable Polish music it contains: an opening of another approach to Chopin legacy in an extensive cultural context. This is also an exceptional recording by an outstanding Polish guitarist of the young generation. All things told: here comes the pure joy of listening.