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Henry Doktorski
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The ten-minute suite--scored for free-bass accordion, violins, violas, celli and double basses--consists of four movements:
Allegro: Przybiezeli do Betlejem
Adagio: Lulajze jezuniu
Allegretto: Dzisiaj w Betlejem
Allegro: Gdy Sie Chrystus Rodzi
Doktorski said, "I wrote this suite in tribute to my Polish heritage and as a Christmas gift to my father and mother, who sometimes had to use firm measures to make me practice the accordion when I was a little boy."
Music critic George David Exoo, wrote:
Charles Smoke, program director for WHIL-FM of Mobile, Alabama, wrote:
I thank you particularly for the Suite on Four Polish Carols which includes the only recording I've encountered of one of my favorites: Lulajze Jesuniu.
Joseph Natoli, executive director for JANPress Publications, wrote:
As always, Henry's composition and orchestration skills combine to produce four little gems with an abundance of clever harmonic and motivic material, all very rewarding to the ears of an audience with widely varied tastes. This arrangement can be heard on Henry's CD, A Classical Christmas, but one doesn't have to wait until Christmas to enjoy these pieces. As evidenced by the year-round broadcast schedule on classical radio stations throughout the US, they can be enjoyed in any season.
Tania Lukic-Marx, a writer for Accordions Worldwide Fortnightly CD Reviews wrote:
Clayton, a loyal classical radio listener, proved the long-lasting staying power of Doktorski's music, when he wrote (eighteen years after the album's release):
Most intriguing for listeners will be the four Polish carols arranged for accordion and string quartet. These lucid pieces evoke images of romantic nineteenth-century Warsaw: cobblestone streets, horses and wagons, candlelight, and siedem potraw - the traditional Polish Christmas eve dinner - as well as the simple joys of family Christmases in rural homes.
A Classical Christmas is a delight and brightened our holiday
programming with its fresh arrangements and lovely original compositions. And it certainly increased our appreciation of the accordion as a "serious" instrument.
Suite on Four Polish Carols places the accordion in one of the most complementary and pleasing instrumental combinations possible. It seems as though the accordion was always meant to be with the string quartet because the quasi-woodwind sound it produces blends and intertwines with the sonorities of the strings so completely, that it is hard to imagine a better-sounding ensemble in any other form.
This is the first time that I have received an accordion CD Single for review. I thought that it was an interesting idea, and since it is a recognized form of recording in other genres in music, why not have it in the accordion world! . . As a unit, this ensemble of accordion and strings characterizes good balance and refined musical taste. They 'breathe' together in long phrases, playing with the full, big sound. The accordion part is performed by Henry most professionally, technically confident, polished musically and stylistically. It is quite an impressive work. ****
Great Christmas Music From WBJC 91.5 FM!
I have a stack of my own holiday music CDs waiting to be played, but WBJC in Baltimore apparently has an endless supply of Christmas music that's been holding my interest during the season. . . . This year [2011], one that caught my ear which I hadn't heard before was Henry Doktorski's Suite on Four Polish Carols for accordion and strings, very engaging and ingenious.
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