Thoughts on Godowsky?

[lowk-_-y]

So up until recently I've enjoyed Godowsky on a somewhat laid back level in relation to the amount he's composed and arranged. I was familiar only with a few pieces: Chopin Etude arrangements, Passacalgia and the Java Suite which whenever I was in the mood for Godowsky (which wasn't very often) I'd be happy cycling these pieces. But currently I'm delving into the rest of his output and...it's amazing. He really produced some original gems and shone a different (not necessarily better) light on the pieces he chose to arrange. While clearly incredibly virtuosic they somehow don't come across as transparently 'showy offy' as Liszt (early-mid period) often can. At least in my opinion theres more substance.


So anyway I'd like to ask:

1 - What are your favourite pieces/arrangements from Godowsky?

2 - Is he considered underrated? If so why do you think this is? Surely it's not because of difficulty as surely there are much harder pieces in the repertoire that are well known and played.

[lostinidlewonder]

Not many pianists play Godowsky so you probably are not going to get many responses in that regard. I like many of his pieces and don't really have a favorite. His writing is dense and multilayered sometimes a little too much in places but that's him. I don't think he is underrated he is fairly well known.

[diomedes]

My immediate response is too much work and not worth it.... Although I'm willing to put myself through the effort of learning the passacaglia one day, but I expect great pain when that rolls on down... The complexity and memory work required, no fun.... And I sharpen my teeth in scriabin sonatas and rachmaninov so that says a lot.... Godowsky is for that rare. 01% of people with a dangerously high iq and probably doing something useful with it like making money rather than learning repertoire that virtually no one will appreciate.