"Universal Prayer" – premiere of the new album released by the National Forum of Music

On December 20, 2024, the latest album of the National Forum of Music will premiere, recorded by soloists of the Polish National Youth Choir and instrumentalists under the direction of Agnieszka Franków-Żelazny and Łukasz Borowicz. This is a monographic album dedicated to the works of Andrzej Panufnik, recorded on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the composer's birth in the acoustically excellent Main Hall of the National Forum of Music. The recording was directed by Antoni Grzymała, with editing and mastering by Agnieszka Szczepańczyk (CD Accord).

The album can be purchased at the NFM Box Office, at the Niskie Łąki bookstore, and online at the NFM Store.

Title: Universal Prayer

Performers:

Agnieszka Franków-Żelazny – conductor [1–3]

Łukasz Borowicz – conductor [4–9]

Natalia Rubiś – soprano
Małgorzata Krzemień – soprano [2]

Małgorzata Panko-Edery – mezzo-soprano

Krystian Adam Krzeszowiak – tenor

Wojtek Gierlach – bass

Malwina Lipiec-Rozmysłowicz, Elżbieta Korelus, Krzysztof Waloszczyk – harps

Jakub Waszczeniuk, Grzegorz Krause, Piotr Bugaj – trumpets

Eloy Panizo Padrón, Wojciech Jeliński, Filip Kołaczyk – trombones

Iñaki Cuenca, Daniel Kamiński – timpani

Tomasz Kowalczyk – glockenspiel

Roman Perucki – organ
Polish National Youth Choir

Program:

Andrzej Panufnik (1914–1991)

Song to the Virgin Mary / Pieśń do Marii Panny 12'02

for six-part chorus a cappella / for six-part chorus a cappella [1964, rev. 1969]

text: Anonim / Anonymous

Prayer to the Virgin of Skępe / Modlitwa do Matki Boskiej Skępskiej 5'52

for solo voice, unison chorus and organ / for solo voice, unison chorus and organ [1990]

text: Jerzy Pietrkiewicz

Invocation for Peace / Inwokacja dla Pokoju 7'12

for treble voices*, two trumpets and two trombones / for treble voices*, two trumpets and two trombones [1972]

text: Camilla Jessel-Panufnik

Universal Prayer / Modlitwa powszechna 35'00

cantata for four solo voices, mixed chorus, three harps and organ / cantata for four solo voices, mixed chorus, three harps and organ [1968–1969]

text: Alexander Pope

Winter Solstice / Przesilenie zimowe** [16'39]

cantata for soprano and baritone soloists, mixed chorus, three trumpets, three trombones, timpani and glockenspiel / cantata for soprano and baritone soloists, mixed chorus, three trumpets, three trombones, timpani and glockenspiel [1972]

text: Camilla Jessel-Panufnik

Mistletoe Carol / Kolęda o jemiole 2'03
Chant of the Earth Mother / Pieśń Matki Ziemi 3'39
Nativity of the SO/u/N / Narodziny Syna/Słońca 4'01
Sermon of St Augustine / Kazanie św. Augustyna 3'48
Hymn for the New Year / Hymn na Nowy Rok 3'07

Total time 77'05

*On the cover of this part, sopranos perform
**World premiere recording

NFM 93, ACD 341

Album premiere: December 20, 2024
Media patronage: Program II of Polish Radio

'Andrzej Panufnik is primarily valued for his symphonic output. However, his oeuvre includes several compositions involving the choir, which have been collected on this album. All of them come from the second, British period of the composer’s life, although it should be noted that in some, he reaches back to Polish roots and music created even before leaving Poland in 1954. At that time, Panufnik, taking advantage of a brief stay at a recording session for Swiss Radio, instead of returning to his country, managed to get to London with the help of friends and there applied for political asylum. He would only return to Poland in 1990, after the democratic changes. His music and name were banned in the country until 1977. During that time, he built a professional position in Great Britain.'

Beata Bolesławska-Lewandowska, excerpt from the essay included in the booklet attached to the album

NFM Ensemble