Godowsky - A Forgotten Genius

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

For those of you familiar with Godowsky -

I became familiar with Godowsky because of my grandfather, who was actually a student of his. I immediately liked Godowsky's music, and set out to play as much of it as I could. I encourage everyone to do the same, and remove Godowsky's name from the list of "obscure" composers permanently.

For several years, I have made an effort to share Godowsky's music with the world. In every one of my solo concerts, there is a section dedicated to Godowsky. Sadly, so few know about his original compositions, but those who do, love it. The elegance of his miniatures... the passion of his sonata... the virtuosity of his Passacaglia...

For those of you not familiar with Godowsky -

Godowsky, like Liszt, is considered to be one of the greatest pianists ever to live. Largely self taught, he was, put simply, a genius. His reputation was ruined with his arrangements of Chopin's etudes, the sole purpose of which was to make them more difficult than the originals, which was thought to be a monumental display of bad taste. However, that aside, Godowsky's original compositions are among the most beautiful music ever written.

There is a Contemporary flavor to Godowsky's music that makes it very interesting. It is really late Romantic, but conatains many "contemporary" harmonies. Godowsky's music is also, at times, similar to the style of Chopin, though it tends to be more complex, because of the many inner voices he uses. His music is probably the most difficult of the Romantic era (even moreso than Alkan) and takes pianists of excellent skill and musicality to correctly play it.

Konstantin Scherbakov, I believe, has recorded most of Godowsky's music. Hamelin has recorded the Sonata and Passacaglia. I shall share with you some snippets of Godowsky's music. NOTE: I will remove them in a week, so download them while you can!


Poem #2 - Avowel - https://www.johncareycompositions.com/Avowel.mp3


Ein Dammerungsbild - https://www.johncareycompositions.com/Ein Dammerungsbild.mp3


Toccata - https://www.johncareycompositions.com/Toccata.mp3


Valse - Idylle - https://www.johncareycompositions.com/Valse - Idylle.mp3


Waltz Poem #1 -https://www.johncareycompositions.com/Waltzpoem1.mp3


Waltz Poem #2 - https://www.johncareycompositions.com/Waltzpoem2.mp3


... and the Polonaise (my favorite!) - https://www.johncareycompositions.com/Poloniase.mp3


If anybody would like more MP3s and sheetmusic, post your email address, and I will gladly send them to you! 

[Bacfokievrahms]

Rest in peace Godowsky, rest in peace  .

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Hasn't anyone heard his music?

[BoliverAllmon]

I love his chopin etudes. I would be interested in hearing more of his stuff.
send it my way please.

boliverallmon@pianomail.net

[thierry13]

Is it you who play those godowsky pieces? They are great!

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Is it you who play those godowsky pieces? They are great!

Sadly, it is not. The pianist is Konstantin Scherbakov. I do play those pieces, and have actually performed them on several occasions, but have never recorded them.

I love his chopin etudes. I would be interested in hearing more of his stuff.
send it my way please.

boliverallmon@pianomail.net

I would gladly send you some of his music. If you are interested, I could also send you the sheetmusic.

[BoliverAllmon]

please do send them send them to ballmoniii@yahoo.com

there I have a 250 MB inbox.

[SDL]

I would gladly send you some of his music. If you are interested, I could also send you the sheetmusic.

Please could you send me the sheet music too merlin_td@yahoo.com.  Many thanks

[Dazzer]

daryl_devil@hotmail.com please:D

[steinway88]

If you can, send me some of his transcriptions of the chopin etudes. ivory1552@hotmail.com

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Hi everyone,

I'll try to get you the things you want tomorrow. 

If you can, send me some of his transcriptions of the chopin etudes. ivory1552@hotmail.com

https://www.piano.ru/god.html

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Oops, I said "Sorabji" rather than Godowsky once in the post. Fixed.

[musicsdarkangel]

Oops, I said "Sorabji" rather than Godowsky once in the post. Fixed.

hehehe it's an obsession, eh?

[musik_man]

I really like the Polonaise.   If that's less than 10mb(the limit for hotmail), can you e-mail it to me at me_hate_aol@hotmail.com

Thanks

[mmason]

I really appreciate what you're doing here and love the sound of Godowsky's music.
Any sheet music and audio you have of his, I'd love to see and hear as much as possible. My email is os4mike@hotmail.com with 250meg limit,
cheers,
Michael

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Hello,

I'm sorry, but I've tried sending the files and I can't, because they go over the 10mb limit. Please choose exactly what you want from the following. I have both the sheetmusic and recordings.



4 Poems -

Devotion
Avowel
Adoration
Yearning


Three Pieces, Op. 14

Ein Dammerungbild
Vlase - Idylle
Scherzino


Three Pieces, Op. 12

Sarabande
Menuet
Courante


Airs of the 18th Century

Exaudet's Minuet
Lisette
Good Old Granny
Mother, Please Explain
Capricious Shepherd Maid
Would That I Were the Lowly Fern
Oh, Come Again, Beautiful Spring


Two Waltz Poems

No. 1 in G Major
No. 2 in A Major


Melodie Meditative

Capriccio


Five Miniatures

Humoresque
Rigaudon
The Miller's Song
Processional March
Arabian Chant

Polonaise in C Major

Sonata in E Minor

Passacaglia

[pianomann1984]

Hey!  Please could you send the sonata (Sheet music & (if you dont mind) recording) to cstokes@tcm.ac.uk?  I don't think I am limited on inbox space.  If you have problems, please try pianomann1984@hotmail.com.  That would be wonderful. 

Many thanks,

Chris

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Certainly! 

I'll send you the sheetmusic today. I'll rip the recording tomorrow.

[BoliverAllmon]

go to www.yousendit.com they allow you to send up to 1 GB as an attachment. Look there.

[robo1001]

Hey!

Please could you send the sheet music of the polonaise please to robo1001@hotmail.com ?!

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Hey!

Please could you send the sheet music of the polonaise please to robo1001@hotmail.com ?!

Absolutely! 

[SDL]

Please polonaise? merlin_td@yahoo.com

thanks!!

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

I'm afraid I can no longer respond to any more requests. The truth is, I'm so busy, and I really can't keep track of all of you. I don't want to let anyone down. Therefore, if you have a request for sheetmusic or recordings, you can ask the others on this thread who I have emailed.

Sorry.

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

I know I haven't sent a lot of you your requests. Expect to have it at the end of the week. I have no time right now.

[BoliverAllmon]

I know I haven't sent a lot of you your requests. Expect to have it at the end of the week. I have no time right now.

no problem man.

[opus10no2]

Godowsky single-handedly revolutionised the piano world.

HAHAHAHA I made a funny.

[mozartjuveniles]

anyone can give me godowsky piece, i have several like chopin etude..... thanks

[term]

His reputation was ruined with his arrangements of Chopin's etudes, the sole purpose of which was to make them more difficult than the originals

So says someone who likes godowsky's music? oooook...

[soliloquy]

So says someone who likes godowsky's music? oooook...

Don't even bother; this guy hasn't been a member of this forum for a while now.


.........





Due to me laying some severe verbal smackdown on him

[pseudopianist]

The Gardens of Buitenzorg is an amazing piece that I discovered recently <3

[ahinton]

A substantial study of Godowsky by Charles Hopkins had been in preparation for some years; Charles's researches had been immensely thorough and he almost certainly knew more about Godowsky than anyone else alive. Sadly, however, Charles is no longer with us, having died last month at the age of 55; I have no idea if any of that work will be in a state to be edited into a volume by anyone else in the future.

I have been commissioned to write an obituary to him which is due to appear in the next edition of International Record Review due out in a few days' time.

Best,

Alistair

[pseudopianist]

A substantial study of Godowsky by Charles Hopkins had been in preparation for some years; Charles's researches had been immensely thorough and he almost certainly knew more about Godowsky than anyone else alive. Sadly, however, Charles is no longer with us, having died last month at the age of 55; I have no idea if any of that work will be in a state to be edited into a volume by anyone else in the future.

I have been commissioned to write an obituary to him which is due to appear in the next edition of International Record Review due out in a few days' time.

Best,

Alistair

Hopkins has passed away? Sad to hear that. His recording of Gulistan has moved me in many ways.