Wladyslaw Zelenski

Sonata in G Minor op. 5

The Piano Sonata in G minor, op. 5, Władysław Żeleński's first important composition, was written in Kraków under the guidance of Franciszek Mirecki - a conservative composer and teacher who was a pupil of Johann Nepomuk Hummel. It was probably Mirecki who brought about the publication of his 22-year-old pupil's work by the esteemed Milan firm of Ricordi in 1859. That publication generated interest among Polish music critics, who discerned the young composer's talent, the work's ambitious conception and the European (German, to be precise) inspirations, distinguishing this composition among Polish music of that period. The Sonata is distinguished by its expressiveness and virtuosity, skilfully combining Beethovenian in¬spirations with references to the legacy of Chopin. It constitutes a key component of Polish pianism from the second half of the nineteenth century, worthy of the attention of musicians and music lovers alike.