WITOLD LUTOSLAWSKI (1913-1994): Piano Sonata, 12 Folk Melodies, 5 Bucolics, 2 Studies, 3 Pieces for Young People, Invention.

Description: Lutoslawski's solo piano music is a small part of his output, and the only substantial piece is the very early sonata, very neoclassical in form, with a great deal of Ravel about it. It is nicely crafted and succeeds on its own terms, but has very little in common with the Lutoslawski of the masterful, fully mature piano concerto. The other pieces are all miniatures, mostly for young pianists; the Folk Melodies are immensely attractive, simply but idiomatically harmonized, as are the Bucolics, also based on folk tunes. The Studies are concert pieces, with distinct echoes of Debussy's Études, and the 1968 Invention is a brief, polyphonic occasional piece. Veronique Briel (piano).