Godowsky: The Pianists' Pianist
By Jeremy Nicholas
Tchaikovsky: June, Op. 37, No. 6
Leopold Godowsky, pianist
recorded September 7, 1926
Go to notes for Chapter 1
Go to notes for Chapter 3
Go to notes for Chapter 4
1884 - 1890
Chapter 2 - Golden Opportunities
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Arrived in US 11/29/84. Debut in Boston 12/7, as member of Clara Louise Kellogg Company., program said "native of Russia, second appearance with soprano Emma Thursby on 12/22 at Ross Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn: Mendelssohn PnF e, Chopin Scherzo in b.Opportunities
Played at NY Casino alternated with Carreno. Musin came back into LG's life, introduced LG to Leon Saxe, tobacco/arts patron. LG offered tour as member of the the Musin Concert Co. of America/Canada under mgt. of Major Pond. LG paid almost nothing, stranded and penniless in West, made it back to NY on his own with no command of English.
Tried to contact the Pension Lšwenfeld. Left behind a trunk with 40 early manuscripts of compositions. Pension and trunk gone. From 86, Mother and LP (never mentioned again) no further part in LG's life. Aside from a 1908 visit in Germany, she took no interest.
Saxe, like Musin/Knorsovsky/Feinberg, took to LG. Anna and LP encouraged this. Saxe saved LG after ill-fated tour.
Treated as son by Saxe and family with 6 kids. Full freedom to practice and play. Frederica (Frieda) and LG attracted to each other; his 1st relationship. Frieda: attractive, intelligent, sensitive and supportive.
LG feels he must establish credentials by European study, typical for the time. Karosovsky had offered Petrograd, Feinberg gave LG Berlin, Saxe promised Liszt (age 74) and Weimar. LG: the one worth studying with. Left for France with Saxe.
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July 1886. Saxe, later wife, spent next four years with LG
LG arrived in Trouville then south to Weimar. Headline July 23 Liszt has died. LG in tears and desolation.
Traveled to Paris to Saint Saens, the No. 2 of the greats. SS, a child prodigy, very precocious. At 10, offered any Beethoven sonata as an encore, dabbled in astronomy, occult, poetry and play writing.
1886 heard: SS third symphony, Franck Violin sonata, Lalo Sym in g, Faure PQuartet #2, D'Indy Sym on FMAir, Messager Les Deux Pigeons. Satie, Debussy, PiernŽ and Chauson making their name. SS could provide entreŽ into these circles.
Saxe left Paris. LG had to survive by learning French, had a smattering of German, halting English, no money, no work, no friends, often hungry. Became despondent about future.
Musin came to Paris, LG visited him in hopes of recovering money from ill-fated tour. Musin said Paris good idea, cordial. re: money, Musin exploded, crushed hat violently, refused to pay.
LG sent SS MŠrchen (fairy-tales): LG played for SS. asked to study with SS. SS: No, but play for me anytime. LG played every Sunday. For 1st 2 hours every visit, SS reclined, but no lessons. When LG played, SS: mais c'est charmant or admirable or epatant, ma cher. SS actually wasn't a teacher, preoccupied with concertizing. SS made exception with LG: SS an unhappy man at the time, separated, both kids dead. 2yr old fell out of window/SS returns home from hunting, sees blood on sidewalk and 7month old a bit later. SS thought LG sent by God. LG: SS wanted adoption. LG: No. SS: angry. LG was already beginning establishment with Godowsky name.
SS prescribed daily routine: gym, training for touring life. all day Sunday, playing during SS hot chocolate then LG played week's compositions. then meal. SS played his own works. Liszt autograph to SS: au Beethoven Francais.
LG thought SS's avuncular devotion to LG as a man might be hiding indifference to LG the musician. Actually, SS and LG shared polished, pearly technique, grace, charm colorful tone, phrasing, instinctive pedaling. SS: "master of the phrase".
Paris now base from age 16 to 21. Matured, established himself as more than a prodigy. Difficult time. Started teaching himself. Soaked up culture, with great zeal. First compositions published: Polonaise in C, two Moto Perpetuos, Valse-Scherzo, March. Wrote only for piano all his life, only two songs, one work for violin, one for cello (both based on original works). No chamber music. Accompaniment was included in the composition.
SS suggested LG join La Trompette SociŽtŽ, founded by Emil Lemoine in 1861. 15 to 20 concerts annually, mixed programs. SS chose Tchaikovsky and Godowsky for LG to play. LG feared he would be compared, but SS insisted. Large audience, hundreds. LG uneasy about program, alarmed. LG played his compositions. Intermission SS introduced LG to Tchaikovsky. LG overcome. Tchaikovsky praised LG.
Earned great reputation amongst circles, acquaintances of Gounod, Massenet, Thomas, FaurŽ, PiernŽ, Widor and Delibes. Met Viscount Ferdinand de Lessep, builder of Suez Canal.
Baron Alphonse de Rothschild invited LG but LG had promised to play for Mme. de Lessepp the same night. BR offered to get a release; LG said no. Mme dL touched, had motherly affection til 1901.
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Received invites to play in London, 1887. At home of Lord Balfour, LG played for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, 30 crowned heads present. LG waited for quiet. 17 years old. Princes Albert and George played with hunting dogs. Lady Knollys, LiW to Princess of Wales then told LG to begin. LG looked at the two princes. LK: We're waiting for you to begin. LG waited for the princes and their dogs to be quiet. LG looked at the two princes. LK: We're waiting for you to begin. LG waited for dogs/princes to be still. I cannot play until complete silence prevails. Princess of Wales went and asked LG if he was troubled. LG: Yes, the dogs. "George, take the dogs out of the room immediately!
After, PoW apologized. LG dedicated Valse-Scherzo to her. QV gave a jeweled remembrance.
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Playing from memory was still rare. Liszt did it first in 1840. Pianists had become KING, imitating Liszt and Chopin, some flagrant. LG now had rivals. Pianists invaded London at this time, like an influenza. GBShaw: "Death is better than 18 recitals a week." So he only reviewed the top pianists. Sapelinikov, Stavenhagen, Paderewski, Mentner, Carreno, Goddard, Albeniz, Roger-Miclos and Friedheim - all appeared in London during the first months of 1890. Godowsky merely another name but Shaw noticed him. LG amazed audience, substituted Beethoven 32 variations with 1st movement Appassionata. GBShaw: Hasn't learned from SS. Schumann Symphonic Etudes sounded shy. LG's Chopin was not shy. Also played little salon pieces of his own.
1890, Saxe dies. LG decides to return to US. Had confidence. Final Paris visit to Gounod. MA: CG admired LG. LG played Schumann Fantasy; CG didn't know it. It overpowered CG; asked for the themes played repeatedly. LG then played first movement Apassionata. CG stopped LG: This is heavenly, play it again, loved the melody, sang along with LG. CG embraced LG: Who wrote this? LG shocked. It's Beethoven. CG: Yes, only he could have written it. I'm happy I heard it before I've died. Thank you.