Jan Podbielski (ca 1650) – Praeludium
&
Johann Jakob Froberger (1616-1667) - Capriccio FbWV503, Libro di capricci e ricercate (c. 1658) 

recorded on 1719 Hildebrandt organ in Pasłęk, Poland

Podbielski’s Praeludium is a short piece in a toccata style that could be played on any keyboard instrument of the time: organ, harpsichord, or clavichord. This was typical of many keyboard compositions in the 17th century. It could have been used as an organ prelude during religious worship or as an improvisatory harpsichord prelude to a court performance. I married this piece with Froberger’s Capriccio so that you might hear what could be played afterwards. Both pieces come from a similar time period, and Froberger’s is in a contrasting imitative style. Capriccio consists of four imitative sections, each finished with an improvisatory cadenza, where the metric changes and the harmonies create patterns of tension and release. To enhance the union, I add an improvisational cadenza at the end of the Capriccio using Podbielski’s initial motives.

Jan Podbielski - Praeludium & Johann Jakob Froberger - Capriccio

Kosmogonik is an arrangement of Brad Mehldau’s jazz tune Unrequited. The composition makes several references to well-known standards of piano and organ literature – some of Jacob’s and my favorites. 
Kosmogonik was also a remarkably powerful engineer robot “who lit stars to dispel the darkness” in the mind of Stanisław Lem (1921-2006), a successful Polish science fiction writer whose books were translated into 41 languages. Kosmogonik is also the middle name of our first son.  The last short and soft section of the composition cites a beautiful Polish lullaby (in the pedal part) “Aaa, kotki dwa” (“Aaa, kitties two”), which is meant to soothe our baby to sleep after all the excitement from the previous louder sections. 

Recorded on the fabulous Paul Fritts organ at ASU Organ Hall in June 2012. 

Kosmogonik by Jacob Adler

The 1719 Hildebrandt organ in Pasłęk is a statement of the change in post-communist Poland: a valuable monument treated with utmost respect, restored with precision to its historical origin thanks to extensive research and international collaboration, and maintained with a lot of care. “Antique Sound Palette” is a collection of carefully selected compositions showcasing the remarkable beauty and variety of sound combinations of this instrument.
to purchase the digital or hardcopy of the CD go to www.kubiaczyk.com

ilona kubiaczyk-adler

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