The Polish composer Czeslaw Marek (1891-1985) is one of the most highly-regarded of musicians in his native land but his music has been rarely heard outside of Poland. This unjust neglect of his splendid compositions is demonstrably shown to be wrong in this most important two-CD set of many of his major vocal compositions, newly recorded and featuring some of the most admired musicians of the day.

The first CD offers a representative selection of Marek's important songs, and the second CD of his songs with orchestra and of several significant choral works, both with orchestra and unaccompanied.

This issue demonstrates the quality of a fine composer's art in a manner which surely cannot be improved upon and will do much to establish him as a major figure in Polish music during the first half of the 20th-century and beyond. The recording quality is of the highest modern standard, as are the performances themselves.

Contents:
CD 1
1. Sechs Lieder Op.1
Jean Rigby (mezzo-soprano), William Dazeley (baritone), Iain Burnside (piano)

2. Fünf Lenau-Lieder Op.17
Jean Rigby (mezzo-soprano), William Dazeley (baritone), Krysztof Smietana (violin), Iain Burnside (piano)

3. Zwei Lieder Op.12
Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Iain Burnside (piano)

4. Rural Scenes Op.30, Sieben Lieder für hohe Singstimme
Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Iain Burnside (piano)

5. Village songs Op.34, Sieben Lieder für hohe Singstimme
Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Iain Burnside (piano)

6. Annemarie, Fox-Trot Op.38
William Dazeley (baritone), Iain Burnside (piano)

CD 2
1. Rural Scenes Op.30, Sieben Lieder für hohe Singstimme und Orchester
Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Philharmonia Orchestra / Gary Brain

2. Village songs Op.34, Sieben Lieder für hohe Singstimme, Klavier und Orchester
Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Philharmonia Orchestra / Gary Brain

3. Boze, cos Polske (Anon.) für Männerchor a cappella  
4. Cyt ... to gra Smierc ... Op.23 (Tetmajer) für Männerchor a cappella
5. Pozdrowienie Op.6 No. 2 (Tetmajer) für Männerchor a cappella
Philharmonia Chorus / David Hill

6. Alpy Op.5 (Krasinski) für Männerchor, Streichorchester und vier Hörner ad libitum
Philharmonia Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra / Gary Brain