Mieczyslaw Weinberg fled his native Poland in September 1939, leaving behind his family. He reached the Soviet Union, where he become one of the most celebrated composers, counting Shostakovich among his close friends, with a prolific output of works. He was mindful of the nation that he had left behind, however. Daniel Elphick will talk about his book, which examines how Weinberg's works written in Soviet-Russia compare with those of his Polish colleagues; how one composer split off from his national tradition and created a style that embraced the music of a new homeland, while those composers in his native land surged ahead in a more experimental vein. The points of contact between them are enlightening for both sides. The study provides an overview of Weinberg’s music through his String Quartets, analysing them alongside Polish composers. Composers featured include Bacewicz, Meyer, Lutoslawski, Panufnik, Penderecki, Górecki, and a younger generation, including Knapik and Szymanski. Daniel Elphick is a musicologist and researcher writing on east-European music and music analysis. He has published articles on Shostakovich and music analysis and is a regular speaker at international conferences. Daniel has taught at Royal Holloway and Goldsmiths, as well as The University of Manchester.