Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast

Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast #60!

https://www.organduo.lt

Today's guest is ​Sławomir Zubrzycki – outstanding Polish pianist, soloist and chamber musician specializing in performing contemporary music, composer, and constructor of musical instruments. He's a graduate of the Academy of Music in Cracow (1988, piano – prof. T. Żmudziński’s class, modern music – prof. A. Kaczyński’s class) and The Boston Conservatory of Music (1990-91). Fulbright Scholar. Prize winner at the prestigious Polish Piano Art Festival in Słupsk (1987). Sławomir Zubrzycki has been giving concerts in USA, Germany, Austria, Spain, Great Britain and Ukraine. He has made several recordings for Polskie Nagrania (Polish recording company), Polish Radio and Television. He was a lecturer at Summer Academy of Contemporary Music – Avantgarde Tirol in Austria (2005, 2007).

In 2009, Zubrzycki came across the traces of a real rarity – Viola Organista – the instrument designed by Leonardo da Vinci, but which had almost been unknown and forgotten. Fascinated by the facts from the past, in the years 2009-2012 Zubrzycki created his own version of Leonardo da Vinci’s design. The premiere recitals of viola organista (October 2013) were a spectacular artistic success that attracted record attendances, gained attention of the international media and over two million viewers on YouTube.

​His European tours in 2014-2015 included recitals at Stockholm Early Music Festival, Wratislavia Cantans, Ghent Festival of Flanders, Kotor Art Festival, Polish Music Days in Turkey, Ohrid Summer Festival, Milano Classica. In 2015 the first solo album, "Viola organista - The da Vinci sound", was released thanks to support of music lovers from all over the world (from Kickstarter campaign). In 2015, Zubrzycki was also invited by Icelandic singer Björk to record together an acoustic version of her album "Vulnicura".

In this conversation, ​Sławomir shares his insights about how he constructed viola organista and how he learned to play it. It's completely different and unexplored area of music and I hope a lot of organists from all over the world will find much inspiration from it.

​Enjoy and share your comments below.

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Thanks for caring.

Related link:

http://www.violaorganista.com