The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-29
POLISH PIANIST
At HIS BEST IN
CHOPIN GROUPS
sewar Friedman, Ranked With Feur
Greatest Living Artists, De-
lights Chapel Audience.

- me TE1 City Musical association.
ysr18ed the enthusiastic criticisms
trom ali over the world, placing
rim among the four great living
Polish pianists-
friedman did not faunt his skill
before his audience. He is quiet
and poetic in his interpretations. II
there is anything spectacular in his
rIsvfnz 1t is heard and felt, not
seen II is manifest that music Is
~ cult. passion or effort for him.
pa iust plays. And it is not merely
: display of technique-itis real in
,arnretatjon. There must be tech
mime there. for the finished play
ing is perfect but it never over
stems its bounds and becomes over
obvious.
Even though F'riedman's numbers
we're interpretations, his own mu-
sical self was kept apart from the
composer. He played as though he
knew the composer and was merely
giving Of his best in presenting
him before the audience. He gets
completely inside the composition
sym patheticalIy and understand
ingly.
Hearers seem to get the music
inst as il was meant TO be gotten
when the master mind created it
His hands seem to be a thing apart
from his body-they seem to be
made for the piano.
Opening the program with the
Beethoven sonata opus so, the art
list played the allegro and rondo-
aiIegretto movements, and followed
this with the Bach Chaconne which
Busoni has stamped with his own
strong personality in re-arranging
fer the piano. The two numbers of
the group were just the ones in
which the various artistries were
displayed. The beautiful whisper
ing pianisFimo. which probably i'm
pressed as beyond doubt the most
finished and really marvellous part
of his work, was awe inspiring. II
in no other way could Friedman
impress he did in this. 1t serves
as proof that pianissimo can be
beautifully done on the piano if one
has the ability. And no less won
derful were his crashing fortissimo
and his prestissimo. The persist
ing harmonies of the second num-
Der were illiantly worked out.
Master Chopin Interpreter.
The second group was of Chopin
numbers. Somewhere the writer
has heard Friedman proclaimed as
a master interpreter of Chopin. 1t
is impossible to call him anything
else after hearing the numbers last
night The Nocturne opus IS was
played first. a more or less familiar
number which was at once liked.
The Ballade came next and instead
of the valse in c sharp minor
which was announced on the pro-
gram, Friedman played the L sharp
valse and the other as an encore to
the group after the insistant de-
mands.
Two etudes came next-lovely
little numbers, the last one, which
is often called The Butterfly" and
rightfully so for It's airineSs and
daintiness, was repeated when the
audience demanded more. The bass
melody was remarkably brought
out, which indicated that the left
hand was unusually developed as
was shown in other numbers. The
Polonaise by Chopin closed the
group, and no one who heard the
number and saw it played will soon
forget the intricate left hand work
when the fingers moved so swiftly
over the keys as to be a veritable
blur.
Two Viennese dances. Friedman
arrangements of Gaertner's works,
opened the last group, and the plan
lists own etude and Les Rever
e1ces. new numbers to almost all
orthe audience, added new glories
10 his name. The last number. the
Tannhauser overture wagner
Llszt) will never be forgotten. AS
an encore another Friedman num-
Der. a Dance. was played. More
would have been appreciated. but
the audience hesitatad in it's de-
mands for the program had been
heaVy and the artist most generous.
Plays in Chapel
The concert, although announced
To be given in the gymnasium. was
neid IN the chapel of the college, as
me seat sale did not merit the use
OF the larger auditorium. The crowd
which completely filed the smaller
room felt nearer the artist The
association this morning expressed
Hs appreciation of the cooperation
OF It's patrons when the arrange
Ments of seats was somewhat con-
tuslng due to the change.
hut surely such a concert could
not De spoiled by little inconven-
Ie9ce such as a seat on the wrong
SIDE of the house,
sometimes a piano concert is
thought to be boresome by those I
Nao do not play the instrument, |
ano therefore think they cannot |
.aIlF appreciate a full evening of
paao music. This thought is met |
S SIA invariably when d pianist is |
announced, but the artist last night |
tssOFed that there is no foundation
Ut such thought Even a child |
roala appreciate and understand |
.leCman's playing. for it was not |
eIeiy display of technique, but |
paying from the very soul which |
..aef tails to reach the most IN
eppFeclat1ve, Those who stayed |
Sy last night because OF the |
loeottulness of their enjoyment,
lave themselves to blame for miss
treat which will not soon be !