Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-05-31
Pianist, Praised BY Padere,uskii,
Retires TO Ashton Family Home

y
master wrote thank-you note to
my little friend whose playing
gave me real pleasure and COM
plete satisfaction" When he
grew up, Mr.. Ravens playing
gave real pleasure and COM
plete satisfaction" to millions in
the worlds concert halls.
Six years ago the pianist and
his wife retired to her family's
longtime home at Ashton. He
still plays the black Steinway
that dominates are living room
for his own pleasure and for
neighbors at what he calls $50
cial evenings.
After his first Chicago concert
MIR. Ravens was acclaimed by the
Chicago Tribune as IAN unherald-
ed genius with phenomenal gifts
and attainments". The New
York Times was no less enthu-
siastic: There are not five
pianists in the world who could
have achieved such a triumph of
beauty"
Born in Providence, r. l., Mr..
Havens was heir to a musical
bloodline, Russian on his
mothers side, Welsh on his
fathers. His talent at the piano
soon outgrew two teachers and
he went to study in the music
capitals of Europe.
Trained Youngsters
Following his debut at 13, Mr..
Havens appeared in recitals and
with the countrys greatest SYM
phony orchestras for more than
20 years. In 1928 he embarked
on a second career: training
young artists for the concert
stage.
After the rigors of a profess
sional pianist's life, Mr.. Ravens
is enjoying his retirement. He
pursues philosophy. Il believe
Aristotle is his favorite ancient
philosopher" says Mrs. Haven.
"He likes William James among
the more modern writer's"
He tinkers with his radio and
television sets. Il always think 1
can get it just little clearer"
The Ravens never attend con-
certs. Instead they listen to
classical music on the radio.
washington has more good
music programs than Boston, +"
says the pianist.
Two other hobbies, travel and
gymnastics, have now been al
most abandoned. The Ravens
made their last long trip to Eng
land in 1949. To keep in shape
the pair used to work out at a
gym three nights a week.
Still Energetic
The former concert star bursts
with energy. He bounds about.
He shakes hands powerfully. He
talks animatedly. His pianist's
fingers witch, twist, flick, flex,
crack constantly.
Mr.. Ravens has very positive
ideas about music. Bach, Beet
hoven and Chopin are his favor
lite composers. Artur Rubenstein,
Claudio Arrau, Rudolph Serkin
and Myra Hess are today's finest
pianists though others are COM
ing up fast.
Arturo Toscanini is without
question the worlds greatest
conductor. The pianist regrets
that he never played under Tos-
canini's baton.
Though he has little time for
listening to popular music, the
pianist finds some popular COM
posers inspired. Especially
Rogers and Hammerstein.
Good Pianists Sought
He says there are more great
pianiSts today than ever before
because talent is found quicker" /.
Agents are on the lookout for
potential performers, he thinks.
For instance, a few years ago, a
representative of the Guggen-
helm Foundation asked him, do
you know where we can find a
genius?"
Concert performers are haunt
ed by the unattainable ideal of
perfection, admits Mr.. Ravens.
They feel a responsibility to
their audience to play perfectly.
They are inevitably disappoint-
ed" This endless Illustration
causes great mental problem,
thinks the pianist.
The ideal, says Mr.. Ravens, is
to play piece of music as the
composer would want it played.
He still strives for that ideal at
his social evenings. He now
concentrates on obscure works
b and unknown composers.
Mr.. Ravens was born in 1891
to a Welsh-English father, who
was a natural musician, and a
Russian.American mother. whose
parents were both gifted musi.
clans.
Talent Seen Early
He exhibited an interest in
music while still an infant. His