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Four Folk Dances

Four Folk Dances (1949)

{slider=Four Folk Dances for small orchestra. Przodek /fragment/}

Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Jerzy Kołaczkowski, Warsaw 1959

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{slider=Four Folk Dances for small orchestra. Jacok /fragment/}

Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Jerzy Kołaczkowski, Warsaw 1959

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{slider=Four Folk Dances for small orchestra. Krzyżak /fragment/}

Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Jerzy Kołaczkowski, Warsaw 1959

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{slider=Four Folk Dances for small orchestra. Zawiślak /fragment/}

Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Jerzy Kołaczkowski, Warsaw 1959

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A work composed in two versions – for piano and chamber symphonic ensemble (without oboes, trombones and violas). It is an artistic arrangement of original folk dances, initiated by the Radio Festival of Folk Music in Warsaw, the objective of which was to encourage the composition of folklore-inspired works. Dances was presented during the first composers’ concert of “Group 49” at the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall on 13 January 1950.

The first dance, entitled Przodek, comes from the Szamotuły region and is in the metre of 3/4. The second dance –  Jacek  – in 2/4, shares some characteristics with highlanders’ music and comes from the Rzeszów region, situated near the mountains, as does the third dance –  Krzyżak. As its Polish name suggests, there are two “crisscrossing” motifs, alternating between the metres of 3/4 and 2/4. The final dance is Zawiślok, which comes from the Kielce region and is slightly similar to the oberek.

 

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  • Programme of the joint composers’ concert of “Group 49” at the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, 1950.

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