cultural institution of City of Gdansk
cultural institution of City of Gdansk
JÓZEF ZEIDLER - Missa ex D
ANTONI HEBEL - Symphony in D major
12. Symfonia I [5:15]
13. Symfonia II [6:17]
14. Symfonia III [1:58]
15. Symfonia IV [4:25]
Wojciech Łukaszewski
Trois épisodes funèbres for soprano and orchestra, lyrics by Pontus de Tyard (1969)
Wojciech Łukaszewski
Catulli Carmina for mixed choir a capella, lyrics by Caius Valerius Catullus (1969)
Wojciech Łukaszewski
I Name You, Sea for mixed choir a capella, lyrics by Henryk Piotrowski (1965)
Wojciech Łukaszewski
Masovia – little poem for male voice choir a cappella, lyrics by Władysław Broniewski (1969)
Wojciech Łukaszewski
Millennium for mixed choir a capella, lyrics by Mieczysław Jastrun (1966)
Wojciech Łukaszewski
Moon Songs for mezzosoprano, reciter and 9 instruments, lyrics by Federico García Lorca, transl. J. Ficowski (1966)
Wojciech Łukaszewski
Folk Triptych for mixed choir a capella, folk lyrics (1969)
Wojciech Łukaszewski
Song of the Soldiers of Westerplatte for mixed choir a capella, lyrics by Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński (1969)
Wojciech Łukaszewski
Nike – rhapsody for mixed choir a capella lyrics by Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński (1971)
Wojciech Łukaszewski
Ode to Gdańsk for solo baritone, reciter, solo clarinet, mixed choir and orchestra, lyrics by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz (1969)
Andrzej Koszewski
Unitis viribus for mixed choir a cappella (2002) lyrics: Latin aphorism
Paweł Łukaszewski
Anima Christi for mixed choir a cappella (2018)
Juliusz Łuciuk
Apocalypsis for soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and mixed choir (1985)
Wojciech Kilar
Lumen for mixed choir a cappella (2011)
Edward Pałłasz
Et... na 24 głosy | for 24 voices (2013) słowa: | lyrics: Apokalipsa św. Jana, Rozdział 20: 11-15
Augustyn Bloch
High Above Us, meditations for 4 sopranos, 4 altos, 4 tenors, 4 basses and organ (2003)
Krzysztof Penderecki
We Shepherds Too for mixed choir a cappella (2015)
Missa pro Maria:
Dear Friends,
It is our great pleasure to announce the long-awaited premiere of a double disc recording of 55 extraordinary motets written by Polish composer Andreas Hakenberger (ca. 1574-1627) when he was kapelmeister at magnificent St Mary’s Church in Gdańsk. This recording sets Hakenberger’s work free from the opaque constraints of ancient music and opens the way to its being appreciated by the broader public. This is the goal that Jan Łukaszewski wanted to achieve through all his years of working with these scores.
These motets are all sacred works with Latin lyrics taken mostly from the Vulgate. The number of voices ranges from 6 to 12 (= one, two or three choirs), which means that most of these motets are polychoral. Their style, rooted in the late Renaissance and early Baroque, was inspired by the Venetian polychoral style from the Basilica San Marco di Venezia and adapted to the vast acoustics of St Mary’s (which remains one of the world’s largest churches) by, among other things, a masterly use of the cori spezzati technique and maintaining a constant lively dialogue between the choirs.
Hakenberger’s scores are available only in a rare critical edition by distinguished Polish musicologist Prof. Jan Węcowski, who spent four years transcribing the motets from the Pelplin Tabulature.
The Pelplin Tabulature is an extensive collection of about 800 works, primarily unknown vocal compositions by many artists (including Hakenberger), almost 100 pieces for harpsichord (Merula, Morley, Philips) and organ (Scheidemann, Tunder). The collection was discovered by chance in 1959 and is invaluable for both historians and musicians. The critical edition was published as part of the Antiquitates Musicae in Polonia series.
The recording took place on 18 - 28 September 2013 at the Church of the Visitation in Krosno near Orneta, Poland, as a collaboration between the Polish Chamber Choir and the Musica Fiorita ensemble, who specialise in ancient music. The CD was released thanks to funding from the City of Gdańsk, the National Centre for Culture and Polish Radio Two.
The record was released by the world famous NAXOS label, which has been making important contributions to the world of classical music since 1987. Naxos uses innovative recording strategies to provide a remarkable repertory with the highest quality sound.
The recording’s instrumental part was arranged by Daniela Dolci based on the historically informed performance approach and the number of instrumentalists available to Hakenberger at St Mary’s Church. The order in which the motets are presented is by Jan Łukaszewski, based on the liturgical calendar.
The disc’s were recorded and released in partnership with the National Centre for Culture.
IRENEUSZ ŁUKASZEWSKI (b. 1938)
Jubilate Deo [4:46]
Kyrie.Rondo [4:21]
Salve Regina [5:06]
St Bernard’s Prayer [3:31]
Sleepy Carol [5:08]
Star of Bethlehem [7:04]
IGNACY JAN PADEREWSKI (1860 - 1941)
Above Water Vast and Pure op.18, lyrics by Adam Mickiewicz [3:08]
4 lieder op. 7, lyrics by Adam Asnyk
When the Last Rose Has Wilted [2:04]
Grey Horse [1:40]
A Birch Rustles in the Grove [3:28]
They Took My Boyfriend [3:30]
FRYDERYK CHOPIN (1810 - 1849)
3 lieder op. 74
The Wish, lyrics by Stefan Witwicki [1:45]
Melody, lyrics by Zygmunt Krasiński [2:35]
Lovely Boy, lyrics by Bohdan Zaleski [2:30]
On 9 June 2017 came the release of a very special album that not only soothes the senses, but also provokes a deeper spiritual reflection and provides repose from the never-ending race of our daily lives. Motets by Paweł Łukaszewski, winner of many awards for his music and its recordings, contains the composer’s original compositions performed by the Polish Chamber Choir conducted by Jan Łukaszewski.
“Łukaszewski’s goal is to create art that would simultaneously draw upon the achievements of contemporary music and is deeply rooted in the music of the past,” says Ewa Szczecińska, musicologist, critic and journalist at the Music Section of Polish Radio Two.
Indeed this music is strongly inspired by tradition, although there is no denying that it is fresh and genuine. Stephen Layton, the director of the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, the Polyphony and the Holst Singers, to whom one of the pieces on the album is dedicated, has praised the Polish composer’s oeuvre for its spiritual intensity, diversity of sound colour and sophistication, even comparing Łukaszewski’s work to the legacy of Henryk Górecki and Arvo Pärt, composers known for their emblematic style and universal message expressed in intimate but emotionally powerful music.
“When after a concert people often tell me that my music has moved them–this is the most wonderful review that I can get. . .But I try to be genuine and I don’t want to manipulate anyone’s emotions,” said Paweł Łukaszewski in Presto Music Film Art magazine. “You can tell a good composer by the way he or she can write for the human voice.”
Experts from abroad emphasise that “it is clear that Polish composer Paweł Łukaszewski belongs to company of titans” (Ronald E. Grimes, Fanfare Magazine, USA).
There is no question that the art of Paweł Łukaszewski is music that taps into deep wells of human sensitivity, which we can easily lose in our everyday rush, writes Emilia Dudkiewicz in her review of the album. And though it was conceived through the composer’s profound spiritual experiences, it can in fact be an antidote for the negative emotions which sometimes accumulate in us, and which we cannot quell by ourselves. The Motets are like the light of dawn, like caramel melting in the mouth, like petals of a rose in bloom–or like the calm breath of a child that can finally dry its tears, full of wonderful joy. For some this music is a feast of sound and a source of comfort. For others – it is a spiritual journey. It inspires profound reflection and “helps us explore the true meaning of the world, and of ourselves” (Emilia Dudkiewicz).
Tracklist:
MOTETS
1. Motette (2011) Carus Verlag, Germany 7:01 *
2. Adoramus te, Christe (2014), Pana Musica, Japan 3:06 *
3. Pater noster (2014), Pana Musica, Japan 3:25 *
4. Psalmus 120 (2008), PWM Edition 2:46
5. Beatus vir, Sanctus Adalbertus (1997), PWM Edition 2:17
6. Nunc dimittis (2007), Chester Music, UK 4:47
7. Beatus vir, Sanctus Martinus (1996), Chester Music, UK 3:19
8. Psalmus 129 (2008), PWM Edition 3:00
9. Ave Maria (1992), Chester Music, UK 4:12
10. Ave Maris Stella (2003) 3:00 *
11. Regina caeli (2014), Pana Musica, Japan 2:44 *
12. Alleluia (2014), Walton, USA 2:13 *
13-17.Pięć żałobnych pieśni kurpiowskich / Five funeral Kurpian songs (2009) PWM Edition 15:33
18. Adventgebet (2003) 4:16 *
TOTAL TIME 61:33
* world premiere recording
