Roman Palester: Piano Music 2

Featuring

Jakub Tchorzewski
Roman Palester

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Historical Context

Roman Palester chose to emigrate to the West due to his growing disagreement with the artistic and moral compromises demanded by the communist government in Poland.

Composer Biography

Roman Palester, the composer, was once considered a successor to Karol Szymanowski, a prominent Polish composer, and achieved significant success early in his career.

Composer Biography

Roman Palester worked for two decades as the director of the cultural section at Radio Free Europe in Munich, where he informed Polish listeners about Western cultural events.

Compositional Technique

Palester's late piano works, including the Etudes and Piano Sonata No. 2, combine classical formal models with original, contemporary content, often incorporating dodecaphony and sonoristic elements.

Cultural Impact

After Palester's emigration, the communist authorities in Poland attempted to erase his person and work from public consciousness through bans on performances, publications, and mentions.

Performer Biography

Jakub Tchorzewski, the pianist on this album, is the first in history to record Roman Palester's complete works for solo piano.

Compositional Technique

Both the Etudes and Piano Sonata No. 2 by Roman Palester are written without bar lines, allowing the pianist flexibility in shaping the musical narrative.