Hevel, Reflections in Polish Piano Works of the 20th and 21st Century
1/28/2025, 26 Tracks, 1:10:55
Featuring
Jan Wachowski
Miłosz Magin
Mieczysław Weinberg
Paweł Łukaszewski
Did you know?
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Album & Artwork
The album title 'Hewel' comes from the Hebrew version of the Old Testament Book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), meaning 'vapour,' 'smoke,' or 'transience.'
Performer Biography
Jan Wachowski, the pianist and composer on this album, won First Prize at the 21st Pietro Argento International Competition in Italy at just 19 years old, the youngest ever to do so.
Composer Biography
Mieczysław Weinberg, a composer featured on this album, was imprisoned in a Soviet prison in 1953 and was freed thanks to Dmitri Shostakovich's intervention and Stalin's death.
Interpretation
Pianist Jan Wachowski's intention for this album is to encourage listeners to pause, reflect, and rediscover the depth and beauty of music.
Compositional Technique
The album contrasts the dissonant, avant-garde styles of Magin and Weinberg with the more traditional, major-minor system-based works of Łukaszewski and Wachowski.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album's program is arranged chronologically to highlight the theme of transience, moving from 20th-century works to those by 21st-century composers.
Recording & Production
The album was recorded at the Concert Hall of the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Lusławice over two sessions in December 2023 and March 2024.
