Imagique: A Different History of Music Iwo Jedynecki & Karolina Mikołajczyk

• George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759): Violin Sonata in D Major, HWV 371:
• 1 Handel: Violin Sonata in D Major, HWV 371: I. Affettuoso (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 03:17
• 2 Handel: Violin Sonata in D Major, HWV 371: II. Allegro (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 03:00
• 3 Handel: Violin Sonata in D Major, HWV 371: III. Larghetto (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 02:52
• 4 Handel: Violin Sonata in D Major, HWV 371: IV. Allegro (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 03:08
• Frédéric Chopin (1810 - 1849): Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2 (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki):
• 5 Chopin: Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2 (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 04:32
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791): Violin Sonata in G Major, K. 301:
• 6 Mozart: Violin Sonata in G Major, K. 301: I. Allegro con spirito (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 08:43
• 7 Mozart: Violin Sonata in G Major, K. 301: II. Allegro (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 05:44
• Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945): Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56:
• 8 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56: No. 1, Joc cu bata (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 01:21
• 9 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56: No. 2, Braul (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 00:30
• 10 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56: No. 3, Pe-loc (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 01:20
• 11 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56: No. 4, Buciumeana (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 01:27
• 12 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56: No. 5, Poarga romaneasca (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 00:30
• 13 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56: No. 6, Maruntel (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 00:53
• Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937): Pavane pour une infante défunte, M. 19 (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki):
• 14 Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte, M. 19 (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 05:35
• Krzysztof Penderecki (1933 - 2020): Violin Sonata No. 1:
• 15 Penderecki: Violin Sonata No. 1: I. Allegro (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 03:23
• 16 Penderecki: Violin Sonata No. 1: II. Andante (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 02:35
• 17 Penderecki: Violin Sonata No. 1: III. Allegro vivace (Arr. for Violin & Accordion by Iwo Jedynecki) 02:44
• Total Runtime 51:34

Info for Imagique: A Different History of Music

Violinist Karolina Mikołajczyk and accordionist Iwo Jedynecki take the listener on a journey through a somewhat different history of music. In 2013, the duo came together to combine instruments from very different eras: the violin, which has played a gigantic role in classical music for centuries, and the classical accordion, which is almost a newcomer. The musicians have arranged all the pieces themselves for their unusual instrumentation and present compositions by George Frideric Handel, Frédéric Chopin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Béla Bartók, Maurice Ravel and Krzysztof Penderecki from a completely different perspective.

Karolina Mikolajczyk, violin
Iwo Jedynecki, accordion

Karolina Mikołajczyk & Iwo Jedynecki
is one of the most vibrant and innovative chamber ensembles of the current generation of classical musicians. Recognized by artists such as Krzysztof Penderecki and Maxim Vengerov, in 2024 they have been awarded Poland's most prestigious prize for classical music - the 'Polityka Passport' - with duo being praised for its 'versatility and ability to navigate through diverse musical realms; virtuosity, unbridled imagination, and ingenuity in selecting and creating new repertoire for the distinctive combination of violin and accordion'. This accolade follows a long line of Grand Prix and First Prizes at international music competitions in addition to performances at prestigious venues, includng Carnegie Hall, Esplanade Concert Hall (Singapore), The Edge Melbourne (Australia), Teatro del Lago (Chile), Guangzhou Opera House (China) and a sell-out debut performance at the Warsaw Philharmonic. The duo has meanwhile thrilled audiences with recitals across the world, from Switzerland to Cuba to the United Arab Emirates to Brunei, totalling 32 countries on five continents as of today. Their repertoire ranges from Bach's Goldberg Variations, through violin sonatas of Mozart, Beethoven, Franck and Penderecki, thrilling arrangements of other Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century works to contemporary music, including commissioned pieces and three double concertos. Thanks to Iwo Jedynecki's accordion transcriptions, both well-loved and little-known repertoire gain bold, new interpretations and original sounds, all the while boasting delightfully diverse colouring. ​

The ensemble is proud to collaborate with leading Polish composers. In 2016, Marcin Błażewicz composed a rare double concerto for violin, accordion and symphonic orchestra, dedicating it to Karolina and Iwo. In 2019, the Duo collaborated with Krzysztof Penderecki, arranging his Violin Sonata (1953) for a duo of violin and accordion with an official approval from the Master. ​

As of today, the Duo has recorded four CD albums – Premiére with original and self-arranged (i.a. Frartes by Arvo Pärt) contemporary music for violin-accordion, Orfeum Trio Plays Piazzolla, BŁAŻEWICZ (nominated for the Fryderyk Prize - a Polish equivalent of a Grammy) and IMAGIQUE: A Different History of Music. The duo also shows an up-to-date approach in promoting its work by presenting video recordings in social media: the one with Mozart’s Violin Sonata gained more than a milion views on Facebook and YouTube, and was shared by the most popular internet platform devoted to classical music – Classic FM -followed up by Kreisler's Chinese Tambourine performed on the Great Wall of China as well as Bach’s Goldberg Variations and excerpts from film music-inspired The Hollywood Fantasy projects. ​

Karolina Mikołajczyk studied under Zakhar Bron in Cologne as well as Andrzej Gębski, Maria Machowska, Agata Szymczewska and Janusz Wawrowski in Warsaw. Iwo Jedynecki holds performance degrees from Germany (Detmold), Poland (Warsaw & Bydgoszcz) and, most recently, the United States (New York University) as the first accordionist recipient of the Fulbright scholarship. Both musicians received their doctorate degrees in 2021-2022. ​​

Karolina Mikołajczyk plays a Duke London violin from 1776. Iwo Jedynecki plays a Pigini Sirius Millennium accordion. The purchase of both instruments was financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Booklet for Imagique: A Different History of Music