Simon Laks (1901-1983), who came from an assimilated Jewish family in Warsaw, composed arrangements of both Jewish and Christian folk songs which captivate by their subtle piano writing.

His Eight Jewish Folk Songs from 1947, composed two years after his liberation from the Auschwitz death camp, are classics of the repertoire. Another real gem is his version of the Polish Christmas carol Jezusek (Little Jesus), which was rediscovered only recently as part of the complete recording of Laks...