Panufnik: Love Song; Violin Concerto; Song to the Virgin Mary; Love Song

It’s easy enough to make superficial comparisons. The roots of Panufnik’s style in Bartók and in his native Polish folk music are plain to hear. There are times when his systematic use of repeated musical patterns invites comparison with minimalism. And yet the music sounds profoundly personal, original in the deeper sense of the word. Time and again one is left wondering how music which appears to be geometrically constructed can sound so passionate and sensual. With the reissue of these outstanding performances there is now no better introduction to Panufnik in the current catalogue.

Our rating

5

Published: January 20, 2012 at 1:17 pm

COMPOSERS: Panufnik
LABELS: Musici Music
WORKS: Love Song; Violin Concerto; Song to the Virgin Mary; Love Song
PERFORMER: Soloists; Chilingirian String Quartet; London Musici/Mark Stephenson
CATALOGUE NO: MM 281091-2 (distr. 020 8231 2319; www.londonmusici.com) Reissue (1990-94)

It’s easy enough to make superficial comparisons. The roots of Panufnik’s style in Bartók and in his native Polish folk music are plain to hear. There are times when his systematic use of repeated musical patterns invites comparison with minimalism. And yet the music sounds profoundly personal, original in the deeper sense of the word. Time and again one is left wondering how music which appears to be geometrically constructed can sound so passionate and sensual. With the reissue of these outstanding performances there is now no better introduction to Panufnik in the current catalogue. From the eloquent simplicity of Love Song to the dark sophistication of the Violin Concerto, this music is brought to life with polish and expert sensitivity – and in beautiful recordings. Strongly recommended to doubters and converts alike. Stephen Johnson

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