Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969): Symphony No. 1 (1945)
Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969): Uwertura Polska (1954)
Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969): Partita for Orchestra (1955)
Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969): Concerto for Large Symphony Orchestra (1962)
Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969): In una parte (1967)

I have listened to a fair amount of the orchestral works of Grazyna Bacewicz recently, including the three recordings of which this is the final one, recorded by the WDR Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the keen Bacewicz devotee Lukasz Borowicz. They have been uniformly excellent in terms of performances and recordings, and as in the previous releases in these series, the conductor provides detailed and highly informative notes in the accompanying booklet.

The release under consideration covers examples for most of the periods of the composer's styles, this one including the world premiere recording of the 1st symphony. As I have become accustomed to with Bacewicz, her works show an acute orchestral ear, with driving rhythms, but also some gentle movements. The works also display a serious and highly capable composer who deserves the increasing recognition she is belatedly receiving outside her native Poland.

As I have noted in previous reviews her music focuses around rhythm, intricate orchestral sonorities and a motivic compact lyrical approach more than long breathed melody. I have enjoyed all the series a great deal, but I am tempted to say this one most of all.

Her first symphony kicks off the release displaying a comfort with extended and recognizable forms. Each movement is impressive, I particularly noted some excellent playing in the middle two movements, with some very lovely almost traditional sounding melodies but each movement maintaining an attractive forward momentum.

All the works in this release are of a high standard, but I would propose a newcomer to this composer starting with the Polish Overture and Partita for Orchestra, composed very close chronologically, and marking the final part of her early 'neo-classical' period. The composer rejected that description, but it is perhaps a simple shorthand to describe those works that follow recognizably older forms (though with very 20th century orchestral arrangements) and display her considerable ability to create memorable sounds and combinations of rhythm. The former is an orchestral showpiece, the latter maintains that standard, but developed over a more varied formal structure. They are both hugely enjoyable.

The next piece, Symphony for Large Orchestra, clearly displays a changing compositional approach, focused more on combinations of sounds rather than formal structures, a more avant-garde 20th century style. The release is completed by the late In una parte, a short piece completed only 2 years before her untimely death. It follows and develops the language for the Symphony for Large Orchestra.

As is the case with the other releases in the series, the pieces are arranged chronologically, and this makes the changes and growth of her compositional landscape easy to follow. The excellent recording picks out the intricate orchestral colors extremely well, and the orchestra and conductor are persuasive advocates for the composer. Recommended.