MOTION TRIO - an accordion trio founded in 1996 by Janusz Wojtarowicz – leader and composer of most of the group's repertoire. Motion Trio is a unique phenomenon on the European and worldwide music scene. Performing their own music, the group is changing the way the accordion is perceived as an instrument. Motion Trio plays on Pigini Super Sirius Bajan instruments, provided through a grant from the government of the Republic of Poland.
Motion Trio has worked with artists like Krzysztof Penderecki, Michael Nyman and Michael Nyman Band, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Wojciech Kilar, Bobby McFerrin, Trilok Gurtu, WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln, Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg, Sinfoniett Riga , Sinfonietta Cracovia, Chamber Orchestra "Aukso", Rio de Janeiro Orquestra do Teatro Municipal.
In the year 2000, they were Grand Prix laureates at the IV Krzysztof Penderecki Modern Chamber Music Competition. They have also given master classes at the University of Chicago and the National Conservatory in Paris. On the music of Motion Trio: Joe Zawinul – "Their music is amazing”; Krzysztof Penderecki – "This is an exceptional accordion trio”; THE FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG writes "... the Trio plays masterfully, utilising suggestive timbral textures(...)”; ALL ABOUT JAZZ writes "... This is accordion playing like you've never heard".
They are the grand prix laureates of the 4th Edition of the Krzysztof Penderecki International Contemporary Chamber Music Competition.
Motion Trio has recorded five albums - "Cry", "Pictures", "Play-station", "Live in Vienna - Sacrum & Profanum" and "METROPOLIS". "Pictures" became a hit and received the following distinctions: Deutsche Shallplatten Kritik, the Polish Music Industry Grand Prix, Best Polish Recording 2000, Top2000 and Jazzi Magazine's critics' Album of the Year Award. Polish music critics recognised Motion Trio as the finest debut of the year 2000 in Poland. The group was honored in France with the "Gus Viseur" award, in the "Musical Discovery of the Year 2005", and has performed in 31 of the world's countries: Austria, Belgium, Brasil, the Czech Republic, Egipt, Estonia, France, Greece, Spain, New Caledonia, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Japan, Canada, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Latvia, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the USA, Hungary and Italy.
Motion Trio has participated in a great number of prestigious festivals and musical events: the Montreal Jazz Fest, the Alternativa Festival in Moscow, the Migration Music Festival in Taipei, Fest Der Kontinente in Berlin, the Gaudeamus Festival in Amsterdam, the Reykjavik Arts Festival, the Festival d'Ile de France in Paris and many others.
In 2004, by invitation from Joe Zawinul, the group appeared at the Vienna club "Birdland" where, over the course of five evenings, they presented 5 different stylistic programs (from contemporary, through jazz to world music).
October 2006 saw the premiere of the Motion Symphony, in Pottsdam, performed with the Deutsche Filmorchester. The nearest performances of the Motion Symphony will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Cologne, Riga and Kiev.
Motion on Motion:
"we are as passionate about heavy metal as we are about jazz or contemporary music"
"we feel just as good playing on the street as we do in a concert hall"
"it is our belief that music will do just fine without the Motion Trio; we, without music, on the other hand..."
Janusz Wojtarowicz - accordionist, composer, arranger, music producer, author of theatrical and film music, founder of the Motion Trio accordion ensemble and the Akordeonus publishing house, issuing the Motion Trio disks and accordion music scores. He begun accordion and piano lessons at the age of 7, as a student of his father Eugeniusz. Janusz Wojtarowicz is a graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin State Music Lyceum in Kraków. He studied accordion at the Academy of Music in Kraków and privately he studied piano under the tutelage of professor Andrzej Białko. As a soloist – accordionist he gained recognition at numerous accordion competitions. He is the author of music to various theatrical performances, among others those by: Jerzy Jarocki, Piotr Cieplak, Rafał Kmita, Remigiusz Brzyk and many others. He is the author of the majority of compositions played by the Motion Trio. He was the laureate of the Grand Prix (together with the Motion Trio) of the 4th Krzysztof Penderecki International Competition of Contemporary Chamber Music in 2000. He was the holder of the President of the City of Kraków Scholarship in 2001. He is the author of the “Jak pisać na akordeon” [How to compose for accordion] vademecum for music composers (AKORDEONUS 2007). He taught numerous master classes, among others at the: University of Chicago, Conservatoire de Paris, Royal Academy of Music in London. He arranged the music composed by Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Wojciech Kilar, Paweł Szymański, Michael Nyman to the needs of the Motion Trio ensemble and performed those compositions, among others at the Carnegie Hall in New York, Skirball Center of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Barbican Center in London and many others.
Paweł Baranek - begun his music education at the age of 10 as a student of the State Music School in Miechów, learning accordion under the tutelage of Mr. Wiesław Kusion, MA. He continued his music studies under Mr. Kusion tutelage in Ignacy Paderewski the State Music Lyceum in Tarnów. He was a student at the Academy of Music in Kraków, where he studied accordion under the tutelage of Mr. Janusz Pater, PhD, completing his tertiary education summa cum laude. He is the author of several compositions played by the Motion Trio ensemble.
Paweł Baranek is the laureate of various national and international accordion competitions. Together with Motion Trio he was the laureate of the Grand Prix of the 4th Krzysztof Penderecki International Competition of Contemporary Chamber Music in 2000. He participated in master classes at various universities, among others at the University of Chicago, Conservatoire de Paris and Royal Academy of Music in London. He performed in 31 countries, playing in the most prestigious concert halls, among others in Carnegie Hall in New York, Skirball Center of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Barbican Center in London and many others.
Marcin Gałażyn - begun his music education at the age of 7 as a student of the State Music School in Augustów, learning accordion under the tutelage of Mr. Eugeniusz Ajdamach, MA. He graduated from the Ignacy Paderewski State Music High School in Białystok. He was a student at the Academy of Music in Kraków, where he studied accordion. Ha is the laureate of numerous accordion, jazz and chamber music competitions. He is the co-founder of the “Que Passa” ensemble, with which he toured for 8 years playing improvised flamenco, latino and jazz music. Since 1999 Marcin Gałażyn is a member of Motion Trio.
Marcin Gałżyn was the laureate of the Grand Prix of the 4th Krzysztof Penderecki International Competition of Contemporary Chamber Music in 2000. He participated in master classes at various universities, among others at the University of Chicago, Conservatoire de Paris and Royal Academy of Music in London. Together with Motion Trio he performed in 31 countries, playing in the most prestigious concert halls, among others in Carnegie Hall in New York, Skirball Center of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Barbican Center in London and many others.
About us:
Krzysztof Penderecki
I have had an opportunity to listen to Motion Trio several times, both in Poland and abroad. This is exceptional accordion trio. The group led by Janusz Wojtarowicz, who is also the compozer of pieces by the trio plays also jazz, and promotes modern music.
The activity of the group is worth supporting, not only becouse of its exceptional character, but also due to the high artistic lavel of its musicians.
Michael Nyman
Me and my group are impressed by the power of their music. Their tones are
the very component that was missing in our work. Our cooperation with Motion
Trio has been one of the most exciting projects I've ever taken part in
Joe Zawinul
Tomasz Stańko
