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Three years after our first CD, Lulajze Jezuniu and Other Gems of Polish Carols, we bring you its sequel, Oj, Maluski, Maluski And Other Polish Gem. There is a common thread in these recordings - traditional Polish carols performed in Polish and in English. The CD is also unique, for many of the songs have never before been presented for the English-speaking audience. These carols originated from a folk tradition in Poland; some of them are not even called koleda, or carol, but pastoralka, a shepherd's song. The variety of tunes and rhythms is rich, often reflecting Polish folk dances such as the mazurka, kujawiak, oberek, and the more noble, polonaise. Our title carol, "Oj, Maluski, Maluski," comes from the Beskid mountains in the south of Poland, a region where our Polish Pope John Paul II was born. This was his favorite carol, one which he often sang.
Artist Bios
Jerzy (George) Bugaj--baritone, pianist, organist and musicologist--came to the United States from Warsaw, Poland, in 1989. While in Poland, Jerzy worked for the Public Radio as a broadcaster and a classical music journalist. Political changes in 1982 (martial law) steered Jerzy back to playing piano and also to singing in vocal and vocal-instrumental old music ensembles, namely Bornus Consort and Ars Nova. He also performed with the Warsaw Chamber Opera's Ars Antiqua Choir as a member and soloist. With these ensembles he performed in concerts and festivals throughout Europe, including France, Italy, Germany, Estonia, Switzerland, and Austria.
In the United States George continued his vocal studies, pursuing his master and doctoral degrees at West Virginia University. In 1997 George was the laureate in the West Virginia University Young Artists Competition. He was also a guest soloist with the Toronto Sinfonietta in Canada. Since 1999 George has been the Music Director at the Catholic Information Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was during this time that he prepared a program of Polish Carols which evolved into an annual concert and ultimately the CD titled Lulajze Jezuniu and Other Gems of Polish Carols (2004) and this our latest, Oj Maluski, Maluski
Agata Bugaj began playing the violin at age five. Her teachers include Hong Guang Jia, assistant concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and members of the Pittsburgh Piano Trio. She has participated in the National Youth Orchestra Festival as well as several chamber music festivals around the country. Winner of the Duquesne Young Artist Competition and the West Virginia MTNA, Agata was the concertmaster of the West Virginia All-State Orchestra and Principal violinist of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Agata graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with degrees in Computer Science and French. Currently working for IBM, Agata has presented at various technical conferences, including SIGCSE and the Microsoft Womens' Conference. She is also the Director of Development for the Winchester Orchestra and a member of the violin section.
Violist Katarzyna Bugaj began musical studies on the violin in her native Poland.
Currently pursuing a performance diploma at Indiana University, Katarzyna is a graduate of Western Michigan University, The Peabody Conservatory, and Interlochen Arts Academy. Her teachers include Victoria Chiang, Igor Fedotov, Yuval Gotlibovich, and David Holland. She also has a degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University.
Ms. Bugaj is currently a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and a supplemental musician for the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. She was also the principal violist of the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra (2002-2004), a member of the 2000-2001 Jerusalem International Symphony Orchestra, and the 2005 National Repertory
Orchestra.
Selections:
1. Prolog/ Prologue
2. Z narodzenia Pana / Tis a Joyful Morning
3. Ach, ubogi zlobie / Humblest of all Mangers
4. Medrcy swiata / Three Wise Men
5. Dzieciatko sie narodzilo / The Child Was Born Unto This World
6. Dzisiaj w Betlejem / In Bethlehem
7. A coz z ta Dziecina /Little Infant jesus
8. Polnoc jus byla/ At Very Midnight
9 A wczora z wieczora / On the Yesterday's Eve
10. Do szopy, hej, pasterze / Come, Shepherds to the Stable
11. W dzien Bozego Narodzenia / On the Joyful Christmas Morning
12. Oj, maluski, maluski / Oh Sweet Little One, Little One
13. Dnia jednogo o polnocy/ Once Upon a Time at Midnight
14. W zlobie lezy / In a Manger
15. Hej, w dzien narodzenia / On the Christmas Morn
16. Epilog / Epilogue
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Features
- Compact Disc
- 16 Selections
- English/Polish Language leaflet with words to all the carols
- Total Time - 58:55
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