Tracklist 9 tracks · 33 min
- Fallen Angel - concerto for violin, piano and orchestra Mateusz Smoczyński, 202233 min
- 1 The Fall 3:02
- 2 Devil’s Whispers 5:26
- 3 Psalm 5:34
- 4 Fire 3:08
- 5 Violin Cadenza 2:51
- 6 Elegy 3:21
- 7 Piano Cadenza 4:27
- 8 Redemption 1:48
- 9 Piano Cadenza Alternate Take 3:59
In homage to Janusz Olejniczak
The idea of writing Fallen Angel was born in a conversation with Janusz Olejniczak, who, after hearing my first concerto, "Adam's Apple", at the National Philharmonic, suggested that I write a similar work for him. Composing it, I was aware that I was writing for an artist of exceptional sensitivity and the most beautiful rubato. So the piece holds lyrical passages in the spirit of Chopin and Szymanowski alongside more rhythmic sections inspired by the jazz that fascinated us both.
Fallen Angel develops the aesthetic begun in "Adam's Apple", weaving the influence of "maximalist minimalism" together with improvisational freedom. The "fallen angel" of the title is a play on words that refers to the title of a piece by the American composer John Adams, "Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes?", and at the same time a musical story about the fragility and the falls of exceptional people.
On the album the piano part is played by Dominik Wania, an artist who joins jazz, improvised music and contemporary classical music in a remarkable way. I am glad that it was he who accepted my invitation to record "Fallen Angel", bringing his inimitable, outstanding touch to the concerto. We are accompanied in masterly fashion by the Polish Radio Orchestra in Warsaw under Michał Klauza. Thank you.
