Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)

[ChamberNut]

Wow, I love this disc! The Concert Krakowiak, cited by ChamberNut as one of his favorite Bacewicz pieces, is the first of a whole series of piano fireworks. The sonatas have such great energy and zeal; the etudes remind me of etudes by Tcherepnin. It's all like Prokofiev meets Polish folk meets neoclassical austerity. Sonata No. 2 also reminds me of the Griffes and Barber sonatas, by way of more continental modernism/flirting with 12 tone. Bacewicz had more energy and passion to get out of her system than most other composers, I think sometimes.  What a collection.

@Brian You can also check out this great disc by Lithuanian pianist Morta Grigaliūnaitė. As you likely know, Bacewicz was half Lithuanian. Although I do prefer the Jablonski, this is excellent. Includes that Concert Krakowiak.



Bacewicz' music is as energetic as a 1 ton nuclear bomb.

[Harry]

@Brian You can also check out this great disc by Lithuanian pianist Morta Grigaliūnaitė. As you likely know, Bacewicz was half Lithuanian. Although I do prefer the Jablonski, this is excellent. Includes that Concert Krakowiak.



Bacewicz' music is as energetic as a 1 ton nuclear bomb.

I rather prefer her

[Brian]

@Brian You can also check out this great disc by Lithuanian pianist Morta Grigaliūnaitė. As you likely know, Bacewicz was half Lithuanian. Although I do prefer the Jablonski, this is excellent. Includes that Concert Krakowiak.



Bacewicz' music is as energetic as a 1 ton nuclear bomb.

Ohhh, I am just now learning that Vytautas Bacevicius is her brother!

[Christo]

Ohhh, I am just now learning that Vytautas Bacevicius is her brother!

I know that there is a deep-rooted American habit of spelling names as wrongly as possible (American family names are therefore the greatest mess worldwide. Trump's German grandfather, believe it or not, was Friedrich Trumpf. Gershwin was born Jakov Gershowitz). Vytautas Bacevičius younger sister was indeed Grażyna Bacewicz, or in Lithuanian: Gražina Bacevičiūtė. In the States they would both have become the "Baker family", or something. 

[Brian]

I know that there is a deep-rooted American habit of spelling names as wrongly as possible (American family names are therefore the greatest mess worldwide. Trump's German grandfather, believe it or not, was Friedrich Trumpf). Vytautas Bacevičius younger sister was indeed Grażyna Bacewicz, or in Lithuanian: Gražina Bacevičiūtė. In the States they would both have become the "Baker family", or something. 

Come to think of it, there is an American military historian of Lithuanian descent whose name here is spelled Andrew Bacevich.