Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-09

The year l949 Will be gtve.l over
to commemoration, by musicians
all over the country, of the cente-
nary anniversary of Chopin's death
The Kosciuszko Foundation in New
York has organized a national COM
mittee to promote various types OF
programs in tribute to the memory
of the most Polish of Polish COM
posers" The series of planned
events will be launched on Chopin
birthday anniversary, February %
reaching a peak on the date of his
death, October IT. Many prominent
musicians have accepted posts on
the committee and it is hoped that
a Chopin centennial fund may be
established for scholarships in music
for talented young Poles and Ameri-
cans of Polish ancestry.
1t is fitting that this commemo-
ration be initiated by the Kosciusz-
ko' Foundation, for Americans owe
a debt to the great patriot for his
assistance in the War of 1ndepend-
erce. Yet without the inStlgation
vi O.JO4ICOAS-IIp,
of this country would undoubtedly
seize the opportunity to honor a
composer whose appeal has been
recognized so widely. Chopin S
close friend and admirer. Franz
List, said, year following the
composers death, that his fame
was not yet as great as it would be
in the future. 1t has not taken all
OF 100 years to come to the complete
realization of his genius. At the
same time. the wonder of his talent
is that it still holds depths not
thoroughly probed or even under
stood by MANY who otherwise sue
cumb to the charm of his music.
Occupies Place Apart.
Nest historians acree that no
colnpcaer has suffered so much from
erroneous iGeas REGARDING his style
as has CHOPIN. He has tecn the
victim of sentimen ali7ation OF
o. virtuosi eXplo!tat On Sir e
Chopins music is PROFOUNDLY rer-
sonai. it IS strange that so little
effort has been made to connect the
character and mentality Of the man
as we'll as his expressed opinions, tc
the Interpretation of his compo.
sitions. Because he confined him.
self to certain types of music, never
entering the symphonic or operate
field, he occupies a place apart
Yet the stamp of his work was sci
in Schumann's words: ITO be poet
one need not have written pom
derous volumes. One or two poems
suffice to make a reputation. anc
Chonin has written II"
The entire new world that his
writings opened up apd the new
st1'e IF nlaving required was q
fa ~ciratinr discovery for pianists
In their ardor tie have forgotten
OF chose to overlook, the specia,
character of pe"Icr:"c2l~ that he
intr~ duced and practi"cd when play
in" his cWn wCr-s Once W,2c'l ar
important perscnage criticized his
tone as being too feeble he replied
This is my manner of playing.
Again he wrote that in Germany
''-~0~Ie COMPLAIN that I rerform toe
softly. too delicately. They are &C
customed to the piano pounding Of
their own musicians.
Fascinating Style Recalled.
Journalistic estimate of his style
sometimes recognized its speciality
Tie Allgemeine Musikalische lei.
tung described it as exquisite deli.
cacy of touch. Undesirable finger
dexterity and the deep feeling shoWr
by his command of shadings." The
V ener Theater Zeitunc said, Hi!
playing was like conversinc among
clever people" Schumann likened il
t. IN aeolian harp and of che OF
his scherzi, "it fingers in memory
like the scent of violets Or poem 81
b ron" The poet eine, an init
rate of the COMPOSER, wrote
when Chopin is at the piano,
foreet all about the technical side OF
PLAYING and become absorbed in the
sweet profundity, the sad loveliness
of his creations which are so deep as
they are elegant"
It is evident that Chopin as pianist
as we'll as composer. evoked the most
poetic eulogies. That he had q
definite manner of playing in mine
and cultivated it, is to be gathered
from accounts of trustworthy mu.
sicians who heard him. Once after
hearing the brilliant virtuoso, List
whose friendship he cherished, hi
said plaintively. Must one always
speak so declamatorily?' He sought
something different in music thar