The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-18
CODOWSKY PLAYS TO
NOTABLE AUDIENCE
Pianist Shows Great VirtuOs.
ity in Recital Given at
AcOlian Hall.
JOSEF HOFMANN THERE

Leopold Godowsky. pianist. gave a
recital yesterday afternoon m Aeoiian
Hall. As the season Is yet young the
programme may be given in full, since
II may serve as a specimen Of the
offerings Of pianists to generous audi
ences. The list consisted Of B~eethoven's
Sonata Appassionata," the first book
of Johannes Brahms's variations on an
entirely unimportant theme Of Pasanini.
Chopin's sonata in B fiat minor. r sharp
impronptu and C sharp scherzo Lisxt's
"Au Bord dune Source" and concert
study in + minor. Chopin's etude, in e
fat minor from pus 10Y arranged
by Mr.. Godowsky for the left hand
unassisted, and the same composers
"Sy mphonic Metamorphoses'' Of Johann
S:rauss's beautiful waltz "Kunstier-
lebcn,"
Mr.. Godowsky was honored by Q
numerous and distinguished audience
whose most notable parsonage was with
out doubt Josef Hoffman,. the great
pianist. All the seats in the auditorium
w,r, occupied and many persons had
places on the stage. Mr.. G~odowsky.
however, is no stranger to New York
ard older music lovers believe them
selcvs to be familiar with his art. Among
professors of the piano and students his
name excitcs something like fetishism.
1t Is surrounded by traditions, though
the man is not old, and people repeat
with hated breath the credited decla-
,ttnn Of this pianist or another that
Golowsky has more technic than any
one else.
1t Is u pity that these enthusiasts
cannot say more for this pianist. He
Is rot q mere technician. He Is a
serious and ambitious student OF the
masters Of pisnoforte composition and
he strives honorably to interpret their
works with adequate intelligence and
frclirc. Despite the oft repeated dictum
OF List. technic is not the entire equip
men; Of a pianist. A greater than List
named Mozart asserted that n needed
brains. heart and fingers. and the general
public. without knowing anything about
the savings of the glorious boy, has
consistently demanded of pianists just
these things.
Mr.. Godowsky has the fingers and
he has "A very considerable stock OF
musical brain. Nor is he without heart.
fur there are moments in his playing
when he iinds the right colors and ac-
cents 70 create a passing poetic Illusion.
fLt tAANNlAlNS
them yesterday In the trio Of the scherzo
Of the Chopin sonata and perhaps even
IN the funeral march, wherein sobs are
Inevitably heard no matter how II be
p,,,ed.
Bu, the highest of all interpretatfve
faculties has been bestowed on Mr..
Godowsky only in 4 small degree. Inn
agiuatior in his art is supplanted al
most entirely by a keen pedagogic an
H. -
parently unquestionable In every detail
o. rhythm. accent. phrase. pedalling and
general grasp, but which none the less.
as In the case of the Beethoven sonata
Yesterday, fail of conviction because
study Is not paired to a nicely with
cree tive imagination.
In compositions such as the Brahms
variations the keyboard master and the
pedagoEue overbalance the artist In this
player, and We get 4 performance In
which speed. clarity of utterance and
holiness Of style seek 10 atone for a
lack Of perfect understanding OF the
music. fan,iful and even daring al times.
which Brahms has made of the famous
HdIlcr's hanal theme. one can gain a
better understanding of his manner OF
reforming such works from his tran
s..lp'4ons of Chopin for one hand and
hs extraordinary transmogriications OF
the charming dance music OF Johann
strauss. With such works Mr.. Godow-
skv does much to astonish and little
20 improve. |