Composed in 1954, the piano Preludes are a continuation of Mycielski’s previous interest in the genre. His pre-war cycles of piano preludes were written in 1927–1928 and 1931, and served as a means of presenting various problems of pianistic technique. The composer did something similar in this cycle, though this time in a form liberated from youthful excess of ideas. What comes to the fore are questions of rhythm (polymetry and polyrhythm, permutation, clash of rhythmically independent planes) and sound (variously organised tonal centres) as well as a wealth of textural ideas.

Beata Bolesławska-Lewandowska interprets this cycle of preludes in the following manner: “It consists six varied miniatures making up a colourful, unassuming and charming whole” (from a forthcoming monograph devoted to Zygmunt Mycielski).

The rercordings of the cycle available above comes from the Piano Preludes (DUX 0699) CD. We are extremely grateful both to the artist, Magdalena Prejsnar and the DUX Recording Producers for their kind permission for this publication.