The traditional music in Poland has kept alive two kind of accordions, the harmonia polska and the more ancient harmonia pedałowa (with pedals instead of bellows), that was very popular in Poland in the decade of the 30s but, nowadays, it is quite unknown and rarely played.
The harmonias were built in little workshops of Poland, mainly in areas where metals, wood and leather were used for other purposes, from the end of XIX century to the I World War. They were customised according the client’s needs and taste. Nowadays, they are not built any more so, the ones that are still in good conditions, are very appreciated objects that bring back memories of olden times.
Janusz’s harmonia pedałowa is one century old and its sound is ancient and exotic. It’s like a travel to an Europe in a lost time when borders kept the singularity of the artistic expression of the peoples, from the hands of a contemporary musician that has got to bring the village music to an urban and cosmopolitan frame.
Links to Prusinowski’s work with harmonias:· Accordion pieces audio playlist Live video at Polish National Radio: Live videos at the Festival of Accordion in Torres Vedras (Portugal):
With harmonia polska:
With harmonia pedałowa:
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Links to other’s works with harmonias, thanks to Muzyka Odnaleziona:Stanisław Stępniak:
Mariam Pełka: Józef Łomża:
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Janusz Prusinowski is multi-instrumentalist and a fascinating singer that has toured intensively with his Kompania, leads several festivals in Poland and teaches hundreds of pupils every year in his own land and abroad in workshops of music and dance.
Janusz Prusinowski has been awarded with:
• Gloria Artis Bronze Medal by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage of Poland, 2014
• Annual award of the Ministry of Culture, 2015
• Nominee to the award for the Common Good by the Presidency, 2018
• Best folk album of the year by Polish National Radio, 2019
• 15th album of the World 2019 for Transglobal World Music Chart
• In 2021 he has been inductee in the first edition of the Transglobal World Music Hall of Fame
Apart of the superb delighting moment that is to attend one of the concerts by Janusz and his Kompania, it means to experience the heritage of the old masters that trusted their art in those enthusiastic young musicians that started to take the village music out of the ostracism at the beggining of 90s. It’s a unique aesthetic experience that surprises in every moment.
- Aleksandra Rózga (first one)
- Dorota Murzynowska (third one)
- Isa Sáiz (forth one)