The battle of Grunwald (also known as the Battle of Zalgiris or First Battle of Tannenberg to distinguish it from the German victory in 1914) in July 1410 is one of the pivotal moments of north-east European history. A coalition of Polish and Lithuanian forces decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, signalling the beginning of the end for one of Catholic Christianity’s most misguided misadventures. Dux’s celebratory disc presents four works inspired by the momentous battle, three composed this year.

The exception is the symphonic poem Grunwald by Jan Adam Maklakiewicz (1899-1954), written during 1939-44. Grunwald is a worthy member of the inglorious medium of battle tone-poems including Beethoven’s Wellington’s Victory and Berwald’s Battle of Leipzig. The Year 1410 by Stanis³aw Moryto (b1947) is another such, like Maklakiewicz’s suffering through overstretching its material in a bid to be “significant”.

Grunwald 1410 is a three-movement suite for bass-baritone and orchestra by Romuald Twardowski (b1930); his depiction of the battle itself in the central movement is the most convincing (with Jaros³aw Bre²k in fine Slavic voice). Best of all perhaps is the fanfare by Janusz Lewandowski (b1955), the grave solemnity of which (a combination of Dukas, Sibelius and Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man) is in marked contrast to the eventual bombast of its larger companions. The Olsztyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra plays efficiently but without great virtuosity. Dux’s recording is faithful and the disc is more than an occasional curiosity.