Hidden Gems, Episode 3: Grazyna Bacewicz

The composer of four symphonies, seven violin concertos, seven string quartets, five sonatas for violin and piano and many more works, Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969) was a major figure in Polish music in the middle of the 20th century. Popular among audiences and musicians alike, her music also plays a historically important roll “bridging the gap between the neo-romanticism of Szymanowski and the modernism of Lutosławsk” (Judith Rosen, Grażyna Bacewicz: Her Life and Works). While in some parts of the world, her music is performed and respected, in others it is nearly unknown. In this episode of “Hidden Gems”, pianist Liza Stepanova and violinist Itamar Zorman perform a collection of short works for violin and piano by Bacewicz (including Slavonic Dance, Oberek no. 1, and Melodia), which are full of humor, virtuosity, beautiful melodic writing, and some Polish folk influences. Marek Zebrowski, the director of the Polish Music Center at USC Thornton School of Music joins us to discuss her life, works, other career as a virtuoso concert violinist, the tradition of women composers in Poland, and more.

Short works by Grazyna Bacewicz:
01:14 Slavonic Dance
04:48 Interview with Marek Zebrowski
24:16 Melodia
27:58 Oberek no .1

29:47 Interview with Marek Zebrowski (Continued)
35:58 Witraz (Stained glass window)

Itamar Zorman, Violin
Liza Stepanova, Piano