Description

LEOPOLD GODOWSKY (FEBRUARY 13, 1870 – SOSHLY, NEAR VILNIUS, LITHUANIA – NOVEMBER 21, 1938 – NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA)

 

 

 

 

 

The famous Polish-born American pianist, composer and pedagogue, Leopold Godowsky [Godowski], was born to Jewish parents in Sozły, near Vilna, in what was then Russian territory but is now part of Lithuania. He considered himself of Polish heritage. As a child, he received some lessons in basic piano playing and music theory; at age fourteen, he entered the Königliche Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, where he studied under Ernst Rudorff, but left after three months. Otherwise, he was self-taught. Leopold Godowsky’s career as a concert pianist, which eventually would take him to every continent except Australia, began at age ten. In 1886, after a tour of North America, he returned to Europe, intending to study with Franz Liszt in Weimar. Upon learning of F. Liszt’s death shortly after his return, he traveled instead to Paris, where he was befriended by the composer and pianist Camille Saint-Saëns, who enabled him to make the acquaintance of many leading French musicians. Saint-Saëns even proposed to adopt Godowsky if he would take his surname, an offer which Godowsky declined, much to the older man’s displeasure. Leopold Godowsky’s pedagogical activity began in 1890 at the New York College of Music. While in New York, he married Frieda Saxe and the next day became an American citizen. In 1894 he moved to the Broad Street Conservatory in Philadelphia, and again in 1895 to the Chicago Conservatory, where he headed the piano department. A successful European concert tour in 1900 landed him once again in Berlin, where he divided his time between performing and teaching. From 1909 to 1914 he taught master classes at the Vienna Academy of Music (Konservatorium Wien). The outbreak of World War I drove him back to New York, where his home was frequented by many distinguished performers and celebrities of that day. Sergei Rachmaninov, a particular friend, dedicated his Polka de W. R. to him. Godowsky was also a close friend of Einstein. After the war, Leopold Godowsky resumed touring, but a stroke he suffered on June 17, 1930, during a recording session in London, put an end to his public performances, and made it impossible for him to recoup the considerable financial loss he had suffered in the Stock Market Crash of 1929. The only surviving recording from that historic session, unfortunately in very poor sound, is a rendition of the Scherzo No. 4, Op. 54 by Frédéric Chopin. The suicide of his younger son in 1932 and the death of his wife in 1933, combined with his despair over the deteriorating political situation in Europe (his plans for a “World Synod of Music and Musicians” and an “International Master Institute of Music” came to nothing) cast an even deeper shadow over his last years, and he stopped composing. He died of stomach cancer in New York on November 21, 1938. Leopold Godowsky was survived by his son Leopold Godowsky, Jr., the co-inventor (with Leopold Mannes) of color photography, as well as a violinist. He married George Gershwin’s younger sister, Frances Gershwin, thus continuing the musical line. He was also survived by his daughter, the actress Dagmar Godowsky (1896-1975), who during the 1920’s appeared as a co-lead in various Hollywood silent movies, including with Rudolph Valentino. She was a notorious vamp, a popular socialite, and wrote a humorous autobiography First Person Plural (New York 1958). As a composer, Leopold Godowsky has been best known for his paraphrases of piano pieces by other composers, which he enhanced with ingenious contrapuntal devices and rich chromatic harmonies. His most famous work in this genre is the 53 Studies on Chopin’s Etudes, in which he varies the already challenging originals by: introducing countermelodies; transferring the technically difficult passages from the right hand to the left; transcribing the entire etude for left hand solo; or interweaving two etudes, with the left hand playing one and the right hand the other (as impossible as this seems).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Mendelssohn Song Without Words in G, Op. 62 No. 1, ‘May Breezes’ 10 April 1913; (36693) D 17713 Columbia

Mendelssohn Song Without Words in C, Op. 67 No. 4, ‘Spinning Song’ 10 April 1913; (36693) D 17713 Columbia

Paganini-Liszt Etude No. 3, ‘La Campanella’ 10 April 1913; (36694) A 5484 Columbia

Chopin Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28 No. 15 10 April 1913; (36695) L 1095 Columbia

Schubert-Liszt Hark, Hark, the Lark 10 April 1913; (36696) A 5484 Columbia

Chopin Polonaise in A-flat, Op. 53 (abridged) 10 April 1913; (36697) A 5550 Columbia

Chopin Prelude in B-flat, Op. 28 No. 21 10 April 1913; (36698) A 5485 Columbia

Chopin Prelude in F, Op. 28 No. 23 10 April 1913; (36698) A 5485 Columbia

Chopin Waltz in C-sharp Minor, Op. 64 No. 2 10 April 1913; (36699) L 1095 Columbia

Liszt Gnomenreigen 4 March 1914; (36980) A 5550 Columbia

Chopin Waltz in G-flat, Op. 70 No. 1 4 March 1914; (36981) A 5597 Columbia

Chopin Berceuse in D-flat January 1916; (36700-3) A 5858 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9 No. 2 January 1916; (36701-4) A 5800 Columbia

Chopin Etude in F minor, Op. 25 No. 2 21 January 1916; (48547) A 6013 Columbia

Leschetizky Arabesque en forme d’Etude, Op. 45 No. 1 21 January 1916; (48547) A 6013 Columbia

Henselt Wiegenlied in G-flat, Op. 45 25 January 1916; (48549) A 5896 Columbia

Chopin Waltz in A-flat, Op. 42 7 February 1916; (48580) A 5791 Columbia

Rubinstein Serenade in D Minor, Op. 93 No. 4 7 February 1916; (48590) A 6013 Columbia

Poldini Vienna Waltz in F, Op. 42 No. 3 7 February 1916; (48590) A 6013 Columbia

Liszt Etude de concert No. 3 in D-flat, ‘Un Sospiro’ 7 February 1916; (48591) A 5800 Columbia

Henselt Gondoliera, Op. 13 No. 2 7 February 1916; (48592) A 5791 Columbia

Henselt Etude in F-sharp, Op. 2 No. 6, ‘Si oiseau j’etais’ 7 February 1916; (48592) A 5791 Columbia

Moszkowski Serenade in D, Op. 15 No. 1 26 May 1916; (48808) A 5858 Columbia

Chopin Waltz in E Minor, op. posth 26 May 1916; (48808) A 5858 Columbia

Rubinstein Melody in F, Op. 3 No. 1 5 June 1916; (48810-1) unpublished Columbia

Verdi-Liszt Rigoletto Paraphrase 5 June 1916; (48812) A 5896 Columbia

Rubinstein Romance in E-flat, Op. 44 No. 1 28 May 1920; (3857) unpublished Brunswick

Godowsky Humoresque, from ‘Miniatures’ 2 June 1920; (3877) unpublished Brunswick

Schutt A la bien-aimee, Op. 59 No. 2 2 June 1920; (3879) unpublished Brunswick

Sinding Rustles of Spring, Op. 32 No. 3 28 July 1920; (4048) 15017 Brunswick

Chopin-Liszt Chant Polonais, Op. 74 No. 1, ‘The Maiden’s Wish’ 28 July 1920; (4051) unpublished Brunswick

Smith-Godowsky The Star-Spangled Banner 7 December 1920; (4653) unpublished Brunswick

Mendelssohn Song Without Words in A, Op. 62 No. 6, ‘Spring Song’ 7 December 1920; (4655) unpublished Brunswick

Macdowell Witches’ Dance, Op. 17 No. 2 21 December 1920; (4706) 15017 Brunswick

Schubert-Tausig Marche Militaire No. 1 21 December 1920; (x4708) 50008 Brunswick

Albeniz Tango in D, Op. 165 No. 2 24 December 1920; (x4725) unpublished Brunswick

Schutt Etude Mignonne in D, Op. 16 No. 1 24 December 1920; (x4725) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin Waltz in C-sharp Minor, Op. 64 No. 2 24 December 1920; (4727) 15018 Brunswick

Godowsky Hunter’s Call, from ‘Miniatures’ 7 April 1921; (5240) unpublished Brunswick

Godowsky Military March, from ‘Miniatures’ 7 April 1921; (5240) unpublished Brunswick

Bishop-Godowsky Home, Sweet Home 24 May 1921; (5667) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin Fantasie-Impromptu in C-sharp Minor, Op. 66 24 May 1921; (x5670) 50008 Brunswick

Chaminade The Flatterer, Op. 50 30 or 31 May 1921; (5721) 15001 Brunswick

Rachmaninoff Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 3 No. 2 30 or 31 May 1921; (5726) unpublished Brunswick

Rubinstein Melody in F, Op. 3 No. 1 2-6 June 1921; (5738) 15018 Brunswick

Chopin Impromptu in A-flat, Op. 29 2-6 June 1921; (x5748) 50009 Brunswick

Liszt Liebestraum No. 3 in A-flat 2-6 June 1921; (x5769) 50024 Brunswick

Rubinstein Reve angelique, Op. 10 No. 22 from ‘Kammenoi-Ostrov’ 2-6 June 1921; (x5755) 50009 Brunswick

Mendelssohn Song Without Words in A, Op. 62 No. 6, ‘Spring Song’ 10 February 1922; (7282) 15001 Brunswick

Mendelssohn-Liszt On Wings of Song 16-19 May 1922; (x8051) 50016 Brunswick

Chopin Polonaise in A, Op. 40 No. 1 16-19 May 1922; (x8053) 50015 Brunswick

Rachmaninoff Prelude in C-sharp minor, op. 3 no. 2 17 May 1922; (8057) 15026 Brunswick

Liszt Tarantella from ‘Venezia e Napoli’ (abridged) 18 May 1922; (x8070) 50016 Brunswick

Chopin Etude in G-flat, op. 10 no. 5, ‘Black Keys’ 19 May 1922; (8078) 15026 Brunswick

Chopin Etude in G-flat, op. 25 no. 9, ‘Butterfly’ 19 May 1922; (8078) 15026 Brunswick

Chopin Waltz in E-flat, op. 18, ‘Grande valse brilliante’ 19 May 1922; (x8081) 50015 Brunswick

Chopin Ballade No. 3 in A-flat, op. 47 (abridged) 3 October 1922; (x8786) 50024 Brunswick

Chopin Polonaise in A-flat, op. 53 (abridged) 3 October 1922; (x8787) 50024 Brunswick

Dohnanyi Capriccio in F minor, op. 28 no. 6 3 October 1922; (8789) 15049 Brunswick

Schutt A la bien-aimee, op. 59 no. 2 (abridged) 7 October 1922; (8855) 15049 Brunswick

Chopin Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2 7 October 1922; (x8859) 50042 Brunswick

Chopin-Liszt Chant Polonais No. 5, op. 74 no. 5, ‘My Joys’ 7 October 1922; (8865) 15042 Brunswick

Chopin-Liszt Chant Polonais No. 1, op. 74 no. 1, ‘The Maiden’s Wish’ 7 October 1922; (8866) 15042 Brunswick

Liszt Gnomenreigen 1923; (01103) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin-Liszt Chant Polonais No. 5, op. 74 no. 5, ‘My Joys’ November 1923; (x11860) unpublished Brunswick

Liszt Etude de concert No. 2 in F minor, ‘La Leggierezza’ 9 January 1924; (x12246) unpublished Brunswick

Henselt Wiegenlied in G-flat, op. 45 9 January 1924; (12247) unpublished Brunswick

Verdi-Liszt Rigoletto Paraphrase (abridged) 16 January 1924; (x12297) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin Waltz in A-flat, op. 34 no. 1 16 January 1924; (x12302) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, op.31 (abridged) 18 January 1924; (x12311) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin Berceuse in D-flat, op. 57 18 January 1924; (x12314) unpublished Brunswick

Liszt Gnomenreigen 18 January 1924; (12323) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin Polonaise in C-sharp minor, op. 26 no. 1 19 January 1924; (x12338) unpublished Brunswick

Liadov The Musical Snuff Box, op. 32 26 January 1924; (12394) 15081 Brunswick

Sinding Rustles of Spring, op. 32 no. 3 5 February 1924; (12459) unpublished Brunswick

Granados Spanish Dance No. 5 in E minor, ‘Playera’ 5 February 1924; (12462) 15081 Brunswick

Chaminade The Flatterer, op. 50 6 February 1924; (12465) unpublished Brunswick

Mendelssohn Song Without Words, op. 62 no. 6, ‘Spring Song’ 6 February 1924; (12467) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin Etude in A-flat, op. 25 no. 1, ‘Aeolian Harp’ 6 February 1924; (x12469) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin Etude in F, op. 25 no. 3 6 February 1924; (x12469) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin Waltz in A-flat, op. 42 8 February 1924; (x12490) unpublished Brunswick

Chopin Polonaise in A, op. 40 no. 1 8 February 1924; (x12492) unpublished Brunswick

Liszt Liebestraum No. 3 in A-flat 25 March 1924; (x12727) 50024 Brunswick

MacDowell Witches’ Dance, op. 17 no. 2 25 March 1924; (x12731) unpublished Brunswick

Schubert-Tausig March Militaire No. 1 25 March 1924; (x12734) unpublished Brunswick

Rubinstein Reve angelique, op. 10 no. 22, from ‘Kammenoi-Ostrov’ 25 March 1924; (x12736) unpublished Brunswick

Debussy Golliwog’s Cakewalk, from ‘Children’s Corner’ 12 August 1925; (E16099) 15105 Brunswick

Debussy Minstrels, no. 12 from Preludes, Book 1 12 August 1924 (E16102) 15105 Brunswick

Debussy Clair de lune, from ‘Suite bergamasque’ 12 August 1925; (E16103) 50069 Brunswick

Debussy Reflets dans l’eau, no. 1 from Images, Book 1 12 August 1925; (E16109) 50069 Brunswick

Camille Zeckwer In a Boat, op. 30 no. 1, from ‘Chansons de la Mer’ 17 August 1925; (E16158) A7915 Brunswick

Chopin Fantasy-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, op. 66 18 August 1925; (XE16165) 50070 Brunswick

Liszt Liebestraum No. 3 in A-flat 18 August 1925; (XE16168) 50070 Brunswick

Eastwood Lane The Crap Shooters, from ‘Five American Dances’ 25 August 1925; (E16233) A7915 Brunswick

Chopin Polonaise in A-flat, op. 53 (abridged) 2 October 1925; (XE16482) 50075

Schubert-Tausig March Militaire No. 1 7 October 1925; (XE16547) 50078

Rachmaninoff Prelude in C-sharp minor, op. 3 no. 2 September 1926; (E20014) 15123

Sinding Rustles of Spring, op. 32 no. 3 3 September 1926; (E20026) 15125

Chaminade Scarf Dance, op. 37 (abridged) 3 September 1926; (XE20028) 50101

Chaminade The Flatterer, op. 50 3 September 1926; (XE20028) 50101

MacDowell Witches’ Dance, op. 17 no. 2 3 September 1926; (E20030) 15125

Rubinstein Melody in F, op. 3 no. 1 3 September 1926; (E20032) 15124

Chopin Waltz in C-sharp minor, op. 64 no. 2 3 September 1926; (E20034); 15124

Mendelssohn Andante and Rondo Capriccioso, op. 14 4 September 1926; (XE20045) 50131

Verdi-Liszt Rigoletto Paraphrase (abridged) 4 September 1926; (XE20048) 50131

Tchaikovsky June (Barcarolle), op. 37 no. 6 7 September 1926; (XE20060) 50101

Chopin Etude in G-flat, op. 10 no. 5, ‘Black Keys’ 10 September 1926; (E20080) 15123

Chopin Etude in G-flat, op. 25 no. 9, ‘Butterfly’ 10 September 1926; (E20080) 15123

Schubert-Godowsky Morgengruss (Morning Greeting), from ‘Die schone Mullerin’ 11 September 1926; (XE20092) 50133

Schubert-Godowsky Gute Nacht (Good Night), from ‘Winterreise’ 11 September 1926; (XE20095) 50133

Schumann – Carnaval, op. 9 – Preambule

Pierrot

Arlequin

Valse noble

Eusebius

Florestan

Coquette

Replique

Papillons

A.S.C.H.-S.C.H.A. ‘Lettres dansantes’

Chiarina

Chopin

Estrella

Reconnaissance

Pantalon et Columbine

Valse allemande

Paganini

Aveu

Promenade

Pause

Marche des ‘Davidsbundler’ contre les Philistins

17-37 28 and 29 May 1929; (WAX 4967-3, 4968-2, 4969-2, 4970-2, 4975-2, 4976-2) LX 32-34 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in B-flat minor, op. 9 no. 1 23 June 1928; (WAX 3807-4) L 2165 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in E-flat, op. 9 no. 2 23 June 1928; (WAX 3808-6) L 2164 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in F, op. 15 no. 1 23 June 1928; (WAX 3811-4) L 2169 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in F-sharp, op. 15 no. 2 23 June 1928; (WAX 3812-4) L 2169 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in C-sharp minor, op. 27 no. 1 23 June 1928; (WAX 3813-4) L 2170 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2 23 and 26 June 1928; (WAX 3830-3 and 3831-4) L 2171 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in B, op. 32 no. 1 23 June 1928; (WAX 3814-6) L 2167 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in G minor, op. 37 no. 1 20 and 23 June 1928; (WAX 3815-6) L 2168 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in G. op. 37 no. 2 20 and 23 June 1928; (WAX 3809-1 and 3810-6) L 2166 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in F-sharp minor, op. 48 no. 2 22 June 1928; (WAX 3827-4) L 2170 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in F minor, op. 55 no. 1 23 June 1928; (WAX 3829-2) L 2167 Columbia

Chopin Nocturne in E minor, op. 72 no. 1 23 June 1928; (WAX 3828-3) L 2165 Columbia

Chopin Sonata no. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 35 – Grave – Doppio movimento

Chopin Sonata no. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 35 – Scherzo – Piu lento – Tempo I

Chopin Sonata no. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 35 – Marche funebre – Lento

Chopin Sonata no. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 35 – Finale – Presto

13-16 25 April 1930; (WAX 5549-2, 5550-1, 5551-2, 5552-2, 5553-3, 5554-2) LX 124-126 Columbia

Grieg Ballade in G minor, op. 24 (Variations on a Norwegian Folk Melody) 27 May 1929; (WAX 4963-2, 4964-3, 4965-3, 4966-1) LX 9-10

Beethoven Sonata No. 26 in E-flat, op. 81a, ‘Lebewohl’ – Adagio – Allegro

Beethoven Sonata No. 26 in E-flat, op. 81a, ‘Lebewohl’ – Andante espressivo

Beethoven Sonata No. 26 in E-flat, op. 81a, ‘Lebewohl’ – Vivacissimamente

2-4 31 May 1929; (WAX 4985-2, 4986-1, 4987-1, 4988-2) L 2354-2355

Chopin Scherzo No. 4 in E, op. 54 17 June 1930; unissued matrices WAX 5624- and 5625-1

Godowsky The Gardens of Buitenzorg, from ‘Java Suite’ Private recording

Chopin Berceuse in D-flat, op. 57 10 April 1913; (36700-1) A 5597 Columbia

 Chopin Berceuse in D-flat, op. 57 10 April 1913; (36700-2) A 5597 Columbia

Schubert-Godowsky Morgengruss (Morning Greeting), from ‘Die schone Mullerin’ 11 September 1926; (XE 20093) 50133 Brunswick