Romantic Piano: How the Songs on Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 Were Created — Janusz Tylman Tells the Story
I recorded both Romantic Piano albums in September 2025. The recording and mastering engineer was Emil Jeleń — a musician and sound engineer I have worked with for thirty years. It's his work that gave these recordings their final, polished sound.
Pieces Gathered Over the Years
I arranged the track order on both albums myself, but the compositions themselves were written under very different circumstances, over several decades. The idea of gathering them, selecting the best, and shaping them into a coherent whole was born during the pandemic — that's when I first looked at this whole body of work as material for an album.
Most of the pieces were written as musical accompaniment for the Ostry Dyżur Poetycki ("Poetry Emergency Duty") evenings at the Teatr Narodowy (National Theatre) in Warsaw — a series I have led since 2000, and still do today. On average every two months, I perform several of my own piano miniatures there, solo, each with a different character and style, shaped by "the word" — the theme and mood of that evening's poetry. The album also includes pieces I composed for my own concert needs, outside the National Theatre.
Lyrics were later written for some of these pieces — in French, English, and Polish.
Selected for Two Albums
From this whole body of work, I selected pieces for two albums — Romantic Piano Vol. 1 and Romantic Piano Vol. 2. I felt that was a substantial enough portion to give listeners a full picture of this music, without overwhelming them.
Every piece also has its own sheet music notation — exactly matching the recordings. That means any pianist can pick up the sheet music and play precisely what they hear on the albums.
What's Next — Orchestral Versions
I have already begun work on orchestral versions of these compositions, recorded with the orchestra "IT HAPPENS". I will most likely release the first orchestral album next year, with further ones following in the years after that.
Who This Music Is For
Romantic Piano's music draws on the Romantic tradition created by Frédéric Chopin — his preludes and nocturnes. Yet it remains distinctly contemporary, at times almost pop in spirit: melodic, expressive, and easy to hum, with some pieces surprising listeners with modern sounds and harmonies.
My piano music is very universal — it can be received and understood by anyone. I want it to move people's sensitivity and give room for imagination, to be touching and playful at once. The diversity of this music should satisfy every sensitive listener, and even offer them some relief.
— Janusz Tylman
FAQ
When were the Romantic Piano albums recorded? In September 2025.
Who handled the recording and mastering? Emil Jeleń, who has worked with Janusz Tylman for thirty years.
Where do most of the pieces come from? They were written as musical accompaniment for the Ostry Dyżur Poetycki poetry evenings at the National Theatre in Warsaw, a series Janusz Tylman has led since 2000.
Is sheet music available for these pieces? Yes — every piece has notation identical to the recording, available in the separate Sheet Music for Piano Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 volumes.
Will there be orchestral versions? Yes — they have already been recorded with the orchestra "IT HAPPENS". The first orchestral album is most likely planned for next year.
Does the Romantic Piano music draw on Chopin's work? Yes — the Romantic style, especially Frédéric Chopin's preludes and nocturnes, is an important reference point for these compositions, even though they sound contemporary, and at times almost pop.