International Record Review: outstanding.
Described by the Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians as the “leading female composer of her time”, Bacewicz's music sadly remains unknown. This neglect is all the more inexplicable since the few recordings of her wprk that have been released have been greeted with enthusiasm. As a student of the famous pedagogue, Nadia Boulanger, Bacewicz received a thorough grounding in the craft of composition, and perhaps as a result of that association has most frequently been described as a Neo-Classicist. Bacewicz herself balked at the moniker, preferring to let her music stand on it's own. Indeed, listening to Bacewicz's music today, it is hard to see how her work could have been considered similar to the studied anachronism of Stravinsky and Hindemith. So how does her music sound? Vivacious rhythms, with a hint of folk music are complimented by clean, open harmonies. A natural feeling for counterpoint is perfectly balanced with wit, humor and an effectively compact design. Hopefully, this important release of the complete authorized piano music of Grazyna Bacewicz will inspire other musicians to explore more of this appealing composer's work!
