Witold Lutoslawski

2 Studies for Piano

Witold Lutos awski was a preeminent Polish musician during his last three decades and one of the major European composers of the 20th century. In the political whirlwinds of the second half of the century he strivedtoremain as true to his art as possible, describing musical composition as a search for listeners who think and feel the same way he did-he once even called it 'fishing for souls'.

Two Studies ForPianoconsists of two expressive, virtuoso pieces full of scale and arpeggio runs, which require advanced technique and mature musical knowledge. Written in 1940-41, during Witold Lutos awski's early period, thestudies clearlyshow the influence of Polish folk music, both harmonically and melodically, however, part of Lutos awski's art was to transform and embed folk music in his classical composition rather than to quote itexactly. Traits ofPolish folklore remain detectable even when he turned away from the explicit use of folk music and developed his own brand of twelve-tone music.