Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)

[Mirror Image]

I tend to prefer her earlier works, e.g. the Violin Concerto No. 1, the Piano Quintet No. 1.  Her later works tend to sound more bland to me.

I feel similarly. I think her later music tries too hard to be 'avant-garde' or 'cutting edge' when it's obvious that others did this much better (i. e. Ligeti, Xenakis, etc.).

[vers la flamme]

I don't hear Ligeti or Xenakis in her later works at all. Nor do I think that those two composers ever had a monopoly on the avant-garde!

[Mirror Image]

I don't hear Ligeti or Xenakis in her later works at all. Nor do I think that those two composers ever had a monopoly on the avant-garde!

But my point is her brand of avant-garde isn't my cup of my tea and I like her earlier music better.

[vers la flamme]

But my point is her brand of avant-garde isn't my cup of my tea and I like her earlier music better.

That's fair enough. I just found it odd that you brought up Ligeti and Xenakis. Different generation, completely different sound world. Of course, if you don't like it, then you don't like it!

On a related note, can someone tell me if there are any other recordings of Bacewicz's VCs outside of the Chandos discs? Those sound great, but Chandos is never easy on the wallet.

[Mirror Image]

That's fair enough. I just found it odd that you brought up Ligeti and Xenakis. Different generation, completely different sound world. Of course, if you don't like it, then you don't like it!

On a related note, can someone tell me if there are any other recordings of Bacewicz's VCs outside of the Chandos discs? Those sound great, but Chandos is never easy on the wallet.

But if you listen to Bacewicz's later works, you will find that I'm not too far off and I was just using Ligeti and Xenakis as an example --- as poor of an example as they may be. Anyway, I'm afraid you're out of luck with the VCs. There has been perhaps one or two VCs recorded outside of Chandos on the Dux label, but you'll pay a premium price for those recordings as well. Dux recordings are usually around the same price as BIS recordings the best I can remember. If you really want the VCs, the Chandos is the only game in town right now.

[classicalgeek]

(cross-posted on the "WAYLT" thread)

Had my introduction to Bacewicz today with these two great discs:

Grazyna Bacewicz
Violin Concertos nos. 2, 4, 5
Joanna Kurkowicz, violin
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Lukasz Borowicz



Symphony for String Orchestra
Concerto for String Orchestra
*Piano Quintet no. 1 (arranged for string orchestra)
*Ewa Kupiec, piano
Capella Bydgostiensis
Mariusz Smolij
(both on Spotify)



Some really excellent music here! The musical language is neo-classical and tonal, but with plenty of dissonance mixed in - right in my proverbial wheelhouse! The violin concertos are substantial works, with lyrical, expressive slow movements and sharply rhythmic finales, and the solo parts are expertly handled by Ms. Kurkowicz. The works for strings were just as pleasing, though I confess the timbre of a string orchestra wears on me over time, so I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the Violin Concerti. But on the whole? I look forward to exploring more of her music! I see there's a series of the chamber music and some of the orchestral works on Dux - which unfortunately isn't on Spotify. I may have to order a couple of CDs...

[Symphonic Addict]

CPO is recording her orchestral works, and they started with the Symphonies 3 and 4. Exciting news.

[Spotted Horses]

CPO is recording her orchestral works, and they started with the Symphonies 3 and 4. Exciting news.

That is great news! Bacewicz is a huge undiscovered talent. I don't see it offered for sale so I guess it has not yet been released.

[Symphonic Addict]

That is great news! Bacewicz is a huge undiscovered talent. I don't see it offered for sale so I guess it has not yet been released.

On the CPO webpage they put the release date as 14 November 2022, but I find many of their release dates misleading. I think it will be released in January or hopefully before.

[classicalgeek]

CPO is recording her orchestral works, and they started with the Symphonies 3 and 4. Exciting news.

Oh, how wonderful!! She definitely deserves a wider audience. I'm thinking it should at least be available for streaming soon, and I look forward to listening. A really underrated composer in my view!

[Daverz]

CPO is recording her orchestral works, and they started with the Symphonies 3 and 4. Exciting news.

That's good news.  I have a pretty good recording of the 3rd on Koch.

[Spotted Horses]

That's good news.  I have a pretty good recording of the 3rd on Koch.

I have come across listings for the recording, but pretty hard to find at a price that isn't insane. It seems like the Koch library vanished from the marketplace when they went out of business. Seems like their classical catalog is owned a company that has done nothing with it.

[Scion7]

Excellent news.
Her 4th Symphony was performed only once in Poland, then disappeared without trace (recording wise).
A very fine composer!

[Symphonic Addict]

Just listened to the recent release of her orchestral works on CPO. Absolutely tremendous. The Symphonies 3 and 4 are imbued with such energy and drive, the music never drags, being the 4th the one that has more fierceness and impact. Bacewicz keeps the ideas flowing with comfortable ease. The recording and performance are more than exemplary, Borowicz and the WDR Sinfonieorchester did their best here. A must hear for any fans of brooding, forceful, relentless symphonies.

[Scion7]

Downloaded this one today.  Especially impressed with the 4th.
Her mastery of the so-called "avante garde" here is complete.

[Skogwald]

Bacewicz is an excellent composer!

Which ensemble do you prefer in the string quartets? I'm leaning towards Lutoslawski Quartet with their more dramatic, dynamic style (compared to the Silesians).

Currently my favorite Bacewicz discs are Lutoslawski Quartet's SQs vol 2 and Zimerman's Piano quintets + piano sonata 2. The new symphony disc is also excellent!

[Symphonic Addict]

Another fan here. All what I've heard by her has been more than rewarding. Apart from the violin concertos and string quartets on Chandos and the symphonies on CPO, some of my favorite recordings are these:

[Brahmsian]

Placed an order for these two yesterday on Presto:

[Skogwald]

Placed an order for these two yesterday on Presto:

Those are both really good! I think you also need a recording of the two piano quintets, I like Zimerman's recording but the Silesians do a great job too.

[Brahmsian]

Those are both really good! I think you also need a recording of the two piano quintets, I like Zimerman's recording but the Silesians do a great job too.

Thank you. I will look into that! 😎