Motion Trio
MOne of the unwritten rules of CD reviewing is that when a new disc comes across your desk of recent Polish music arranged for three accordions, you have to at least give it a listen. In the case of this strange and wonderful release by the Polish ensemble Motion Trio, that obligation pays off splendidly. The headliners here are works by three of the leading Polish composers of the past half-century, in new versions that underscore the pieces’ distinctive qualities, from the breathless rambunctiousness of Górecki’s Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings (with Leszek Mozdzer playing the solo part on piano with acerbic force) to the dark mournfulness of Penderecki’s “Chaconne in Memoriam John Paul II.” In between is the disc’s chief treasure, a puckish and invigorating take on Lutoslawski’s piano suite “Bucolics” that casts a new light on the music’s wit and dancelike grace. There are short pieces too, by Janusz Wojtarowicz (one of the trio’s members) and Wojciech Kilar, adding up to an unusual but richly satisfying disc. — Joshua Kosman