The mazurka, one of Poland’s most distinctive musical dance forms, continues to inspire composers far beyond its traditional origins. While often associated with Frédéric Chopin, this recital explores the broader and evolving story of the mazurka through the voices of both celebrated and lesser-known composers from Poland and around the world.

The program presents a diverse collection of works that reveal how composers have transformed this Polish dance into a vehicle for artistic expression, cultural identity, and contemporary creativity. It includes mazurkas by Karol Szymanowski, whose innovative language expanded the genre in the twentieth century, as well as works by composers inspired by Chopin’s legacy, including Zygmunt Stojowski, Julian and Nathalie Janotha. The program also features mazurkas by lesser-known Polish composers such as Wojciech Kilar and Mikołaj Piotr Górecki, whose individual musical voices offer new perspectives on the evolution of the genre. Special attention is given to the contributions of female composers, whose works enrich the mazurka’s continuing legacy.

Alongside these historical works, the program features newly commissioned mazurkas created for the international 21st Mazurkas project—a visionary artistic initiative conceived, developed, and realized by pianist Anna Kijanowska. Bringing together composers from Poland, Europe, North America, South America, and New Zealand, the project presents the mazurka as a living international form. These contemporary works demonstrate the remarkable adaptability of the genre, blending elements of folk tradition, personal expression, modern compositional techniques, and diverse cultural influences. Each composer offers a unique perspective, transforming the mazurka into a global musical language while maintaining its connection to its Polish roots. Among the contributors is Matthew Bengtson, Associate Professor of Piano Literature at the University of Michigan, whose commissioned mazurka forms part of this international collection.

All of these new works were written especially for pianist Anna Kijanowska and recorded on the award-winning DUX album 21st Mazurkas (DUX 2149). The recording received the Platinum Prize at the Golden European Piano Awards 2025, together with the Special Regional Representative Award (Cieszyn, Poland) and the Artist of the Month distinction.

Through a dialogue between historical voices and contemporary creators, Mazurka: Dance of a Polish Soul, Voice of the World celebrates the mazurka as a living art form—one that continues to evolve across generations, cultures, and continents, while remaining deeply connected to Poland’s rich musical heritage.