Wieniawski, Nikodemowicz: Works for Violin and Piano Dominika Falger & Gajusz Kęska

• Henryk Wieniawski (1835 - 1880): Kujawiak in A minor:
• 1Wieniawski: Kujawiak in A minor03:55
• Obertas in G major, Op. 19 No. 1:
• 2Wieniawski: Obertas in G major, Op. 19 No. 102:37
• Polish Song in G minor, Op. 12 No. 2:
• 3Wieniawski: Polish Song in G minor, Op. 12 No. 204:49
• The Piper in D major, Op. 19 No. 2:
• 4Wieniawski: The Piper in D major, Op. 19 No. 204:20
• Andrzej Nikodemowicz (1925 - 2017): Lullaby, Op. 86 (2nd version, 1993):
• 5Nikodemowicz: Lullaby, Op. 86 (2nd version, 1993)03:15
• Sonata, Op. 10:
• 6Nikodemowicz: Sonata, Op. 10: Allegro moderato11:49
• 7Nikodemowicz: Sonata, Op. 10: Larghetto misterioso07:24
• 8Nikodemowicz: Sonata, Op. 10: Vivo06:33
• Romance, Op. 6:
• 9Nikodemowicz: Romance, Op. 611:21
• Nocturne, Op. 3:
• 10Nikodemowicz: Nocturne, Op. 305:40
• 5 Lullabies, Op. 94:
• 11Nikodemowicz: 5 Lullabies, Op. 94: Tempo di berceuse02:34
• 12Nikodemowicz: 5 Lullabies, Op. 94: Tempo di berceuse02:05
• 13Nikodemowicz: 5 Lullabies, Op. 94: Lento misterioso01:52
• 14Nikodemowicz: 5 Lullabies, Op. 94: Lento assai – Tempo di berceuse02:08
• 15Nikodemowicz: 5 Lullabies, Op. 94: Lento espressivo02:02
• Total Runtime01:12:24

Info for Wieniawski, Nikodemowicz: Works for Violin and Piano

This new release from DUX presents selected works of Henryk Wieniawski and Andrezej Nikodemowicz for violin and piano; performed here by violinist Dominika Falger and pianist Gajusz Keska.Henryk Wieniawski was one of the most outstanding violinists of the second half of the 19th century. In the first years of his career, his works were mainly virtuoso pieces; compositions testifying to the technical efficiency of an excellent violinist (including the Polonaise in D Major, Op. 4, Caprices, Op. 10, the Concerto in F-sharp Minor, Op. 14). In later works, he clearly sought a compromise between the technical layer and the depth of musical expression. In the works recorded on this album, Wieniawski refers to the best traditions of salon music.

The Kujawiak in A Minor, Chanson polonaise Op. 12 No. 2, Obertas in G Major and The Piper in D Major Op. 19 Nos. 1 and 2 kept in a folk character, with melody of noble simplicity, went down in the 19th-century violin music as compositions of Polish pedigree.

The music of Andrzej Nikodemowicz bears traces of fascination with the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Fryderyk Chopin, Alexander Scriabin, Karol Szymanowski as well as with elements of sonorism and dodecaphony.

Pieces for violin and piano from the early creative period of Andrzej Nikodemowicz Nocturne, Op. 3 (1946), Romance, Op. 6 (1947) and Sonata, Op. 10 (19481949) are characterized by a romantic aura, distinct expression, and natural beauty of the sound of the concert instruments. Their melodies, provided with a broad phrase, are complemented by colourful harmony, sometimes slightly dissonant, but always alert to changing moods. In turn, Lullaby, Op. 86 (2nd version, 1993) and 5 Lullabies, Op. 94 (1991) are an expression of a longing for the past and the happiness of childhood.

Dominika Falger, violin
Gajusz Keska, piano

Dominika Falger
was born in Krakow into a musical family. She received her first violin lessons from her father. She continued her studies at the Paderewski Akademy of Music in Poznan, where she studied with Prof. J. Kaliszewska and Prof. M. Baranowski, and at the universities of Vienna and Graz, where she studied with Prof. E. Z. Zienkowski, Y. Kless and Prof. J. Pospichal.

From 1997 to 2005 she was the assistant of Prof. Y. Kless’ performance class at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz. Additionally she has studied historical instrumental practice with Prof. I. Rainer and Prof. H. Kurosaki.She has won prizes at numerous national and international violin competitions: the Z. Jahnke in Poznan, the Sarasate in Pamplona, the R. Lipizer in Gorizia, the K. Lipinski and H. Wieniawski in Lublin, the Brahms in Pörtschach, the Szymanowski in Lodz and the T. Wronski in Warsaw.

By the age of 12 she was appearing regularly as a soloist in almost all European countries, in the United States, and in the Far East. She has played with the most important Polish orchestras as well as with the Vienna Symphony and the Taegu City Symphony Orchestras, theand the Slovakian Chamber Orchestra.

In addition to numerous recordings for international radio and television broadcasters she has made many CDs of solo and chamber music works. Her repertoire stretches from the Baroque to include the most important Classical and Romantic works as well as contemporary music.

She is lecturer at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz (Austria), professor at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna since 2011, and teaches at the music school of the City of Vienna, and regularly holds master classes. She is also in demand as a jury member for international violin competitions. Dominika Falger has been a member of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra since 1999, where she is the first leader of the principal second violin section. She is also a member of the Gliére Quartet.

Gajusz Keska
His study in Academy of Music in Cracow in piano class of Professor Andrzej Pikul he finished in 2002 with distinction. In the same year he started post graduated study in master piano class of Professor Willem Brons in Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam, which he finished in 2005 as well with distinction (the highest mark). In March 2010 he got his PhD in music in Academy of Music in Cracow where nowadays he is leading his own piano class in piano department. In 2017 he got his habilitation title. His students are prizewinners of national and international piano competitions.

He is a prize winner of national and international piano competition: National Polish Piano Competition EPTA in Cracow, International Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Gaillard in France, Polish Music Festival “Week of Talent” in Tarnów, Piano Competition “Tadeusz Żmudziński

im Memoriam” in Cracow, Special Prize for the best performance of romantic music in International Piano Masterclass in Tel-Hai in Israel, International Pacific Piano Competition in Vancouver in Canada and International Piano Competition “Ciutat de Mallorca” in Palma de Mallorca.

He was a scholarship holder of Polish Minister of Culture and Art, Jűtting Foundation in Stendal, Maestro Hans Vonk, Schumann-Schimmel van Outeren Foundation in Holland.

Gajusz Kęska performs wide repertoire as a soloist and chamber music player and regularly plays in prestigious halls during festivals and concerts in most of the countries of Europe and China, Canada, Japan, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Equador and Israel. In 2013 his debut CD with Piano Sonatas of K. Szymanowski for nominated for ICMA 2013, for Fryderyk Prize 2013 and got Prize from Spanish music magazine “Scherzo”. From 2015 he is creator and director of International Competition for Young Pianist “Chopin at Wawel” in Krakow, Poland. Since the same year Gajusz Kęska is co-organizer and artistic director of international masterclasses Malopolska Academy of Talent in Łącko, Poland.

Booklet for Wieniawski, Nikodemowicz: Works for Violin and Piano