Aleksander Nowak
chamber

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Click on a title to find fragments to listen, program notes, history of performances and links to publications.

• String Quartet No.2 "Little Commentary for 25-years Pro Novum" for two violins, viola and cello (2011)

  perf.: Silesian Quartet

  CD

  Program Note

  The piece refers to the theory of the revolutions of heavenly spheres outlined by Nicolaus Copernicus in the manuscrypt called "Commentariolus" (Little Commentary) ca. 1514. The revolutions are treated here as multiple returns. The composition was written in 2011, commissioned by the Pro Novum Company, on the occasion of its' 25 Year Anniversary.

  performances

  • November 15, 2012; Silesian Quartet; Monopol Hotel Patio, Katowice

  recordings

  • June 28, 2012; Silesian Quartet; Academy of Music in Katowice Concert Hall; sound engineer: Beata Jankowska-Burzyńska
• „Satin” for cello and accordion (2011)

  perf.: Magdalena Bojanowicz (vc), Maciej Frąckiewicz (acc)

  CD

  Program Note

  The piece was written in the spring of 2011, especially for the "TWOgether Duo".The title refers to a kind of fabric. The music refers to some connotations that the title can evoke.

  performances

  • July 19, 2011; TWOgether Duo - Magdalena Bojanowicz (cello), Maciej Frąckiewicz (accordion); 7 Polish Music Festival in Krakow; "Galicja" Jewish Museum

  recordings

  • August 2, 2011; TWOgether Duo - Magdalena Bojanowicz (cello), Maciej Frąckiewicz (accordion); UMFC Concert Hall in Warsaw; sound engineers: Katarzyna Rakowiecka, Robert Migas
• ”3 Peaceful Street” for 8 cellos (2010)

  perf.: Warsaw CELLONET Group, Andrzej Bauer (dir.); live recording

  CD view score

  Program Note

  There is quite a large and rather gloomy building on 3 Peaceful Street, in the suburbs of a certain city. It is hard to find it not knowing the way. In the first decade of the 21st Century it become a witness of many unimportant and a few significant events in the life of a certain family.
  The composition was commissioned by the Polish Composers’ Union, especially for the CELLONET ensemble; it was created in the summer and fall of the year 2010.

  Performances

  • February 2, 2011; Warsaw CELLONET Group, Andrzej Bauer; Opening Concert of The 8. Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition in Warsaw; King's Castle, Warsaw
• ”Undertows” for cello and piano (2010)

  perf.: Magdalena Bojanowicz (vc.), Agnieszka Kozło (pno)

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  Program Note

  Undertow – a subsurface flow of water created as result of wave action, turned opposite to wave direction. Such current can be deceitful.
  The composition was created in 2010 on commission from the Foundation for the Promotion of Young Cellists, as an obligatory piece in the 8. Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition.

  Performances

  • February 7-8, 2011; Beatriz BLANCO, Magdalena BOJANOWICZ, Tomasz DAROCH, Léonard FREY-MAIBACH, Hans Kristian GOLDSTEIN, Benjamin GREGOR-SMITH, Moisés LEE CHEON, Hee-Young LIM, Luca MAGARIELLO, Mikhail NEMTSOV, Angela PARK, Dominik PŁOCIŃSKI, Louis RODDE, Lukas STASEVSKIJ, Sayaka Selina STUDER, Anne Yumino WEBER; Second Stage of The 8. Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition in Warsaw; National Philharmony in Warsaw, Chamber Hall

  recordings

  • March 30, 2012; Warsaw CELLONET Group, Andrzej Bauer; Polish Radio Studio S1, Warsaw; sound engineers: Ewa Guziołek-Tubelewicz, Aleksandra Nagórko
• ”Little Partita” for violin and piano (2010)

  perf.: Piotr Pławner, Eugeniusz Knapik; live recording

  Program Note

  In the history of music the form of Partita is defined as a multi-movement suite of stylized dances. Today, Partita emphasizes the multi-movement aspect. This composition, on the contrary, the dance aspect is stressed. I dedicate this piece to Andżela, Justyna, Monia, Karo, Pari, Sandra and Sylwia.
  The work was written in 2009/2010 with Piotr Pławner and Eugeniusz Knapik in mind as the performers.

  Performances

  • May 13, 2010; Piotr Pławner, Eugeniusz Knapik; 27. Musica Polonica Nova Festival; Wrocław Philharmony Concert Hall
• String Quartet No. 1 for two violins, viola and cello (2009)

  perf.: Silesian Quartet; live recording

  Program Note

  String Quartet No. 1 is an attempt to add “a few words” in the matter of a string quartet, which by some is considered the most demanding musical form that exists. The devil sometimes is so black as he is painted.
  The piece was commissioned by the Silesian Quartet and written in the winter of 2008/2009, especially for the 3.Premieres Festival NOSPR in Katowice.

  Performances

  • March 28, 2009; The Silesian Quartet; 3.Premieres Festival NOSPR in Katowice; Concert Hall of the Academy of Music in Katowice

  recordings

  • June 29, 2012; Silesian Quartet; Academy of Music in Katowice Concert Hall; sound engineer: Beata Jankowska-Burzyńska
• ”Green Mary Hill” for 2 pianos (2008)

  Program Note

  The composition was written in September and October 2009 in Katowice. It is supposed to be a rather light piece, however not completely without more serious elements. It is designet to be performed with a certain degree of liberty.
  The work was premiered in 2009 in Katowice, by Gabriela Szendzielorz and Andrzej Jungiewicz.

  Performances

  • October 29, 2010; Gabriela Szendzielorz, Andrzej Jungiewicz; 14. Silesian Contemporary Music Days; Mieczysław Karłowicz State Music School, Katowice
  • November 20, 2009; Gabriela Szendzielorz, Andrzej Jungiewicz; 112. Silesian Tribune of Composers; Mieczysław Karłowicz State Music School, Katowice
• ”Quantemporette” for clarinet, trombone, cello and piano (2008)

  perf.: Tomasz Żymła (cl), Mateusz Konopka (trbn), Stanisław Lasoń (vc), Piotr Sałajczyk (pf); live recording

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  Program Note

  The title Quantemporette combines three words: quantum, temporal and quartette. These meanings are of some influence on the final shape of the piece, some more obviously (quartette), some less, however the composer would prefer not to explain too much, firstly being afraid that taken away by words, he might create a reality, which would be hard to find in the music itself, and secondly being convinced that even though some non-musical elements can have some role in the process of creation, they are rather irrelevant at the moment of perception.
  The musical matter in this piece is, as usually, a result of many factor coexisting, such as: accident, mood, decisions that are partly conscious and partly not etc.; above all this, the main goal is to find, or create a level of understanding between the composer and the listener, by using what is already known, and what is not yet known. Obviously, also a very particular set of instruments is quite important.
  The piece was created in the summer of 2008, as a commission of the Polish Music Festival in Krakow, and is dedicated to composer’s brother, Bartek.

  Performances

  • Dcember 20, 2009; Tomasz Żymła (cl), Mateusz Konopka (trbn), Stanisław Lasoń (vc), Piotr Sałajczyk (pf); Promotional concert of the CD "Fiddler's Green"; Concert Hall of the Polish Radio in Katowice
  • November 19, 2009; Tomasz Żymła (cl), Mateusz Konopka (trbn), Stanisław Lasoń (vc), Piotr Sałajczyk (pf); 111. Silesian Rostrum of Composers Concert Hall of The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice
  • November 16, 2008; The London Sinfonietta; 4.Polish Music Festival in Krakow; Florianka Hall

  recordings

  • March 10, 2012; Arkadiusz Adamski (cl), Tomasz Hajda (trbn), Stanisław Lasoń (vc), Piotr Sałajczyk (pfte); Academy of Music in Katowice Concert Hall; sound engineer: Beata Jankowska-Burzyńska
• Sonata ”June-December” for violin and piano (2005)

  perf.: Piotr Pławner (vn), Jacek Maksymiuk (pf); studio recording

  buy score | CD

  Program Note

  The main impulse to write this piece came from the desire to meet the challenge of the classical form. The second equally important impulse came from the need to transcend this form and go beyond it. The first desire is to be consistent, to create, to build on something and to sum it up. The other one is to be unpredictable, to go in an opposing direction, and to destroy. These two desires meet and battle with each other here like themes in the classic sonata form.

  Performances

  • January 26, 2011; James Garlick, Maria Braun; Focus! 2011 Festival "Polish Modern"; Paul Recital Hall, Juilliard School of Music, New York
  • December 20, 2009; Krzysztof Lasoń, Piotr Sałajczyk; Promotional concert of the CD "Fiddler's Green"; Concert Hall of the Polish Radio in Katowice
  • November 10, 2009; Piotr Pławner, Eugeniusz Knapik; V Polish Music Festival in Kraków; Aula Collegium Novum, Jagiellonian University
  • June 2, 2009; Krzysztof Lasoń, Piotr Sałajczyk; XIX Mikołów Music Days; Wedding Hall USC in Mikołów.
  • October 11, 2008; Piotr Pławner, Jacek Maksymiuk; XXV Przemyśl Music Autumn; Przemyśl Cosiety of Music Hall.
  • February 19, 2008; Krzysztof Lasoń, Jacek Maksymiuk; „From the Library of Chamber Masterpieces” Festival; Concert Hall of The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice.
  • July 27, 2008; Piotr Pławner, Jacek Maksymiuk; VIII Summer Music Festival in Rycerka Górna; Dom pod Gontami.
  • November 6, 2007; Krzysztof Lasoń, Piotr Sałajczyk; Krzysztof Lasoń & Piotr Sałajczyk Duo Recital; Margaret Comstock Concert Hall, University of Louisville.
  • May 6, 2005; Krzysztof Lasoń, Jacek Maksymiuk; 60 Anniversary of the State Music School in Gliwice; Concert Hall of the State Music School in Gliwice.
  • April 27, 2005; Krzysztof Lasoń, Jacek Maksymiuk; VI Composition Department Days of The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice; Bolesław Szabelski Concert Hall, AM Katowice.

  Recordings

  • February 13, 2009; Krzysztof Lasoń, Piotr Sałajczyk; sound engineering: Beata Jankowska-Burzyńska; Concert Hall of The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice
  • January 13, 2008; Piotr Pławner, Jacek Maksymiuk; sound engineering: Lech Dudzik, Gabriela Blicharz; Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio in Warsaw