Very sad discovery

[ted]

Well, this explains why we have not heard from "rachfan" for so long. I am sure everyone here will miss his wonderful playing of his favourite Russian and late romantic music. He was also remarkably knowledgeable and eclectic about music and a very acute listener.

https://www.athutchins.com/obituary/DrDavid-April

[lostinidlewonder]

That's terrible news! We had many discussions where he shared a wealth of knowledge and rarely heard music with me. He was a very encouraging person who cared about others. May he rest in peace. Thanks ted for finding this information.

[lostinidlewonder]

He shared this wonderful list of piano books that he personally owned with me:


RACHFAN:
Here are the piano books that I've collected over the years:

    "The Principles of Expression in Pianoforte Playing", Adolph F. Christiani, Harper & Brothers, 1885 and reprinted by Da Capo, NY, 1974.

    "A compilation of Guide to the Proper Use of the Pianoforte Pedals with Examples out of the Historical Concerts of Anton Rubinstein, Bosworth & Co., Leipzig, 1897; and Possibilities of Tone Color by Artistic Use of Pedals: The Mechanism and Action of the Pedals of the Piano by Teresa Carreno, The John Church Company, NY, 1919; now titled "The Art of Piano Pedaling: Two Classic Guides", Dover Publications, Inc., 2003

    "Leschetizky Method", Malwine Bree, G. Schimrer, NY, 1902; reprinted by Scholarly Press, 1971

    "Piano Playing with Piano Questions Answered", Josef Hofmann, Theodore Presser Co., 1920; reprinted by Dover, 1976

    "The Principles of Pianoforte Practice", James Friskin, H. W. Gray Co., NY 1921; reprinted circa 1960

    "How to Play the Piano", Mark Hambourg, Theodore Presser Company, 1922

    "Basic Principles in PianoForte Playing", Josef Lhevinne, Dover Publications, Inc., NY, 1924; reprinted by Dover Publications Inc. in 1972

    "Music At Your Fingertips", Ruth Slenczynska, Da Capo Paperback, 1925; reprinted in 1976

    "Touch Expression in Piano Playing", Clarence G. Hamilton, Oliver Ditson Co., Boston 1927; reprinted by Dover in 2012

    "Piano Technique", Walter Gieseking and Karl Leimer, Theodore Presser Company, 1932; reprinted by Dover in 1972

    "Playing the Piano for Pleasure", Charles Cooke, Greenwood Press, Publishers, West Point, CT, 1941; reprinted twice more that same year; reprinted in 1970

    "Keys to the Keyboard", Andor Foldes, E. P. Dutton & Co., 1948; two reprints that same year

    "Abby Whiteside on Piano Playing", Abby Whiteside, Scribner’s Sons, 1955

    "Notes on the Piano", Ernest Bacon, Dover Publications, Inc., 1963; reprinted in 2011

    "The Art of Pedaling", Heinrich Gebhard, Franco Colombo, Inc., NY, 1963; reprinted by Dover, NY, 2012

    "The Art of Piano Playing, a scientific approach", George Kochevitsky, Summy-Birchard Music, Princeton, NJ, 1967

    "Piano Technique–Tone, Touch, Phrasing and Dynamics", Lillie H. Philipp, Dover Publications, Inc., NY 1969; reprinted in 1982

    "The Pianist’s Problems", William S. Newman, Da Capo Press, NY, 1974; reprinted by Da Capo in 1984

    "The Pianist’s Talent", Harold Taylor, Stanmore Press, Ltd., 1979

    "The Technique of Piano Playing", Jozsef Gat, Collet’s Publishers Ltd, London and Wellingborough, 5th edition, 1980

    "With Your Own Two Hands", Seymour Bernstein, G. Schirmer, NY, 1981

    "Touch & Tone—A Manual of Precepts and Routines", Louis L. Schroeder, Tonal Arts Press, Wavwatosa, WI, 1981

    "On Piano Playing", Gyorgy Sandor, Schirmer Books, New York, 1981

    "The Vengerova System of Piano Playing", Robert D. Schick, Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, Penn. and London, 1982

    "The Pianist’s Guide to Pedaling", Joseph Banowetz, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1985

    "The Pianist’s Spectrum", Ozan Marsh, Longwood Academic, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, 1987

    "The Art of Piano Playing", Heinrich Neuhaus, Barrie & Jenkins Ltd, 1973; reprinted by Longwood Academic, Wolfboro, NH, 1989

    "Mastering Piano Technique: A Guide for Students, Teachers, and Performers", Seymour Fink, Amadeus Press, 1992

    "Pianism", Aiko Onishe, Anima Press, 1996

    "Piano Pieces", Russell Sherman, North Point Press, NY, 1997

    "Notes from the Piano Bench", Boris Berman, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2000

    "The Art of Performance", Heinrich Schenker, Oxford University Press, 2000

    "Piano Notes", Charles Rosen, Free Press, NY, London, Toronto, Sydney, 2002

    "The Craft of Piano Playing", Alan Fraser, Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2003

    "The Perfect Wrong Note", William Westney, Amadeus Press, 2003

    "Mastering the Art of Performance", Stewart Gordon, Oxford University Press, 2006

    "Improve Your Piano Playing", Dr. John Meffen, Allworth Press, NY, 2007

    "The Russian School", Christopher Barnes (translator) Kahn & Averill, London, 2007

    "Piano Practice and Performance", Barry & Linda Wehrli, Wehrili Publications, Valley Village, CA, 2007

    "Playing Beyond the Notes", Deborah Rambo Sinn, Oxford University Press, NY, 2013

    "Piano – The Spirit of Technique and Interpretation", Rosa Antonelli, self-published, 2013

    "Piano Technique Demystified", Neil Stannard, Create Space, 2014
     
Yes, I've read them, review parts at times, and consult them when needed.  I love to read about performance.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I'm very sorry to hear this. I'd been wondering if something had gone wrong. He was always very encouraging, and did a lot for the profile of lesser-known Russian area figures such as Catoire and Bortkiewicz.

[quantum]

Sad news indeed.  He was so passionate about sharing his knowledge and beautiful recordings of neglected romantic music. 

[emill]

Hello Ted,

I am so saddened, to find out that David is gone.  Through the years, he was so kind as to exchange numerous emails with me mostly dealing with my anxiety and insecurity as a father regarding my son Enzo, who was and still is so immersed in the piano. His guidance was valuable.

I will always remember his love for the piano and the reason why he continued to post pieces here, despite that many of his friends just faded away from PS.  Here is what he said .....

I've been here at Piano Street for 10 years now at the end of this month.  I find that it goes in cycles.  There are times when I have a small audience that enjoys my playing, but then they disappear for various reasons.  Later some new people discover my newer recordings and I have a new little audience again.  I always feel sad though when they leave, as some have been wonderful pianists, or loyal listeners.  At this moment I seem to be in that down part of the cycle.  But it will change yet again.

That is why I was so surprised why he stopped posting in 2017. I will personally miss him as a friend. 

God Bless Rachfan / David. 

   

[ted]

Hello emill,
                  Yes, I think we all sensed that something had gone wrong but as yet what actually happened to him is a mystery. You can write a tribute on the obituary site if you want to, two of us have done that. So far there has been no response from his family though. Soon after reading about David I heard that Keith Jarrett is paralysed and cannot play. I hope 2021 is a better year for piano music.

[lostinidlewonder]

If you click the link at the top of this page you can find a tribute wall where you can post, might be a nice way to show your love for David. Ted and I are the only contributors so far.

He wasn't a spring chicken and lived a good age. He knew he was getting older and knew that time was flying by fast. I have a handful of pieces he introduced me (from Bortkiewicz, Catoire and Dutra all of which can be found on the Audition room Index) to and they will always remind me of him when I play them. He was at "The Barron Center" in Portland which by the looks of it is a nurisng home. A fast decline and into nursing home usually is a result of a bad stroke which possibly is what happened to poor David. It is speculation but at least he was looked after where he was.