Hello
I am Polish investigator of lost Piano Concertos. I am in touch with Grossman family and they told me their family house of the son of Ludwik Grossman was devastated during WWII. I hope the Concerto score wasn't there... And this is my kind request for any of You who might now something in this matter. We are looking for a manuscript (probably) signed by Ludwik Grossman or Louis or Wojciech Horejszo (his nickname). I searched some published scores by Grossman but no a piano concerto was found. Polish Encyclopedia of Music says only the title of the work and the key - no year nor publishing info or place of depository. We are looking for Piano Concerto/Concerto pour piano/Klavierkonzert etc. I need Your help now.
With best regards,
Artur
Dear Artur,
Nice to find on YT your very recent recording of Franciszek Mirecki's Adagio et Allegro Concertans (1828) reconstructed by you.
Great input to the inventory of the Polish concertante pieces for piano and orchestra! Thank you so much.
BTW, have you noticed on YT the recording of the first movement of Henryk Bobinski's PF Cto no. 1? and also 1st movement of the PF Cto no. 1 by Vladimir (Włodzimierz) Puchalski (teacher of Vladimir Horowitz)?
best regards,
Marek Niewiadomski
Thanks, Marek, for drawing attention Artur's reconstruction and performance of the very lovely Mirecki piece. It's quite a gem. Unfortunately, I can't find either the Bobinski or Puchalski excerpts on YT. Can you help me find them, please?
Volodymyr Pukhalski's piano concerto (first movement) is here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRiUvSjDhTs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRiUvSjDhTs)
The concerto starts at 4m30s. It's quite Liszty and a bit Saint-Saënsish (these are technical terms...!)
It seems he was Ukrainian? 1848-1933. Though a couple of entries list him as Belarusian or Polish or Russian.
A few bios:
http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CU%5CPukhalskyVolodymyr.htm (http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CU%5CPukhalskyVolodymyr.htm)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4384503 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4384503)
https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Пухальський_Володимир_В'ячеславович (https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%83%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%92%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80_%D0%92'%D1%8F%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87) (in Ukrainian)
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wladimir_Puchalski (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wladimir_Puchalski) (in German - calls him "Polish/Ukrainian/Russian")
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Władimir_Puchalski (https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C5%82adimir_Puchalski) (in Polish - calles him Russian and Ukrainain)
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Пухальский,_Владимир_Вячеславович (https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%83%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9,_%D0%92%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80_%D0%92%D1%8F%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87) - (in Russian - calls him Russian and Soviet!)
Yes, there is a complicated matter with the nationality of people who were born, educated, worked at that time on these territories. It must be remembered that there were no independent states of Ukraine or Belarus then and even for centuries before. Before 1790s these regions (incl. Minsk, Kyiv) were a part of Poland (including Great Duchy of Lituania) so called Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Staring from 1790s till the end of WW1 they were a part of Russian Empire (after partition of Poland). As almost all institutions, theatres, schools, including musical ones, were under Russian administration so all officials, graduates could be called as Russian scientists, musicians, medicians, officials etc. regardless their roots. In fact the issue of nationality of individual person depended on his/her belief and inner declaration.
Saying that I fully accept considering Puchalski and many others as Ukrainian, Belarussian, Polish but rather not Soviet.
BTW, as other examples we may take: Paderewski, Zarębski, Moniuszko, Sowiński and many, many others musicians, writers, scientists.
And here you have the link to the first movement of the piano concerto by Henryk Bobiński - performed by Ukrainian forces. From the intro in Ukrainian language I cannot understand everything but it was said that the concerto were played at the ceremony of opening of the Kiev Consarvatory in 1912 (before the High Musical School existed).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5BohRaoLEM
Performers are:
Фортепіано - Євгеній Логвиновський /piano Evgenyi Logvinovsky/
Симфонічний оркестр КІМ ім. Глієра /SO of the Kyiv Gliere Institute of Music (not sure if I correct decipher the acronym KIM)
Диригент - Віталій Протасов /conductor Vitalyi Protasov/
also, information and solo+reduced accompaniment version (2 pianos) publication of the Bobinski @ IMSLP (https://imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto%2C_Op.8_(Bobinski%2C_Henryk)).
The Bobinski is GREAT! Do you have biographical information on him?
Thanks very much indeed for the links. Marvellous music. I knew the Bobinski from the 2 piano score but that is never enough. One must hear the full orchestral scoring. I would be very interested to learn the whereabouts of the score of the 2nd PC - if it still exists.
What an attractive piece the Bobinski movement is, I'd love to hear both the full concerto and other works by him.
There's a little biographical information @ Polish Wikipedia (https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henryk_Bobi%C5%84ski) which Google-translates-in-a-hurry (sorry...) as
In Warsaw he attended the Musical Institute. He studied at Strobel, playing the piano and composing with Zygmunt Noskowski. He obtained his diploma in 1879. After graduation he went to Krakow. He worked there as a piano teacher at the Music Society. Parallel to his work, he gave concerts (among others: Lublin, Krakow, Warsaw). Then he left for Vienna to complete his education under the direction of Teodor Leszetycki. Later, he studied composition with Szostakowski at the Moscow Philharmonic. There, after obtaining his first degree, he taught piano for the next three years. In 1893, he lived in Odessa for a short time and then moved to Kiev. He became a professor of higher piano class at the school of the Russian Musical Society. In the years 1893-1903, he gave concerts in Warsaw, Kiev and Vienna. In 1914 he became seriously ill. He moved to Warsaw in the same year, where he lived for the last few months of his life.
Cited source: "Irena Poniatowska: Bobiński Henryk [w:] Encyklopedia muzyczna PWM. Część biograficzna t. I, Kraków 1979 ISBN 83-224-0113-2".
Mr. Vaughan- Fleisher, I gather, has the Jurgenson score (https://know.freelibrary.org/Record/455946) (and parts) , problem is as usual they probably don't loan to just anyone. Someone else might have it though.
Eric,
I know Fleisher have score and parts for PC 1. It's PC 2 that I haven't been able to trace. They don't list that.
you mentioned something about being unsatisfied (understandably) with the reduction (qua reduction, that is) of concerto 1, too, I thought. That's what I meant.
A small bio of Bobinski here in English, and a link to the score of the piano concerto No 1:
Bio: https://musopen.org/composer/henryk-bobinski/ (https://musopen.org/composer/henryk-bobinski/)
Born: 1st February 1861 - Died: 24th April 1914 - Birthplace: Warsaw, Poland
Henry Bobiński was a Polish pianist and composer. In Warsaw, he attended the Institute of Music. He learned piano and composition at Strobel, with Zygmunt Noskowski .He graduated in 1879. After graduation he moved to Krakow . He was employed there as a piano teacher of the Music Society. Then he went to Vienna.
Score: https://musopen.org/music/29908-piano-concerto-op8/ (https://musopen.org/music/29908-piano-concerto-op8/)
Hey Guys!
Thanks! I appreciate Your interest into my Mirecki restoration - parts found in Aarhus, brought to Poland and with help of my friend who is engraver we created a score for conductor. We had also a conference on our Chopin University in Warsaw. I gave a lecture about Mirecki's piece and other people also talked about Mirecki's life and output. As in a topic any info on Ludwik Grossman Concerto in C-major are welcome. About Bobinski 2nd Concerto - I found only second movement in piano arrangement (worldcat says so in search). But no entire concerto. Thanks for links to Bobinski and Puchalski (as written in Polish version). There is so much treasures to be found - it is about crawling in mud on some last stories where garbage is kept - and also maybe lost manuscripts - it's a pity that orchestral scores were not published or even many Piano Concertos stay in manuscripts so Pazdirek is obviously silent - Grossman's PC was probably in manuscripts - his house was destroyed in 1939 in bomb attacks... Maybe he buried a box in ground with the scores.... Looking forward also for info about Wiktor (Victor) Kazynski (Każyński) ( or in russian version - he worked in Petersburg) Concerto in f-sharp minor, Anton de Kontski (Antoni Kątski) Piano Concertos - I searched many libraries and dissertations but find no answer where Kontskis Concertos are to be found (I wrote even to Grand Rapids in US where Kontski lived). And finally I searched in Lviv libraries for Wilhelm Czerwinski Concerto but found only some Nocturnes. Wish You all the best and looking forward to any tips on Grossman, Kazynski, Kontski, Czerwinski Pno Concertos....
My best
Artur
Quoteyou mentioned something about being unsatisfied (understandably) with the reduction (qua reduction, that is) of concerto 1, too, I thought. That's what I meant.
Sorry, Eric. I didn't make myself clear. I meant it is always a pleasure to hear with one's ears a performance of a concerto
with the orchestra, rather than the approximation I at least get when stumbling through a full score.
I gather a concerto and fantasy by Wodnicki were performed in 1841, don't know what became of them though. (At this time anyway.)
Maybe the Ukraine Music Information Centre might have some information on some of these (such as the Lviv composers) - www.composersukraine.org (http://www.composersukraine.org) - contact is Ivan Nebesnyj (ivan_nebesnyj@ukr.net (http://ivan_nebesnyj@ukr.net)) - why don't you write to them...
I've made mp3 files from the Pukhalski and Bobinski youtubes and removed the lengthy verbal intros. They are in the download sections if anyone wants them.
Thanks, Christopher. I did the same, but you beat me to it!
I'm new to all these composers... that being said, what a melodic delight the 1st movement of Bobinski is. This would be an an ideal project for Hyperion... maybe Jonathan Plowright!?
Please write to Simon Perry at Hyperion with your suggestion.
Hi Christopher.
Thank you for putting the two pieces in the download section.
Please note that the correct name of one of the composers is PUchalski - not to be missed with another Polish composer and pianist Henryk PAchulski :)
I have sent Hyperion a mail suggesting the Bobinski concerto for the RPC series. Whether Mr. Perry responds, remains to be seen.
I agree, the Bobinski is a delight, and surely worthy of a place in the Hyperion series - fingers crossed!
The more people who write to Simon Perry asking for the Bobinski, the more likely it is to be recorded.
Gareth, I appreciate that you've only been able to see the piano reduction, but do you think the other two movements are of the same quality?
Yes. I think so. It is a full-blooded romantic piano concerto. Very enjoyable.
Puchalski/Pachulski, Tomato/Tomahto? :D
QuotePuchalski/Pachulski, Tomato/Tomahto? :D
Nope: Tamoto.
mispronounced Toyama? Anyway...
No - vowels in wrong order.
That's enough messing around, boys. Settle down now, or I'll send for the headmaster.
...ooh, ouch. I consider myself duly slippered.
Quote from: Gareth Vaughan on Wednesday 12 December 2018, 10:32
Yes. I think so. It is a full-blooded romantic piano concerto. Very enjoyable.
It would be good to know what else he wrote and if it is as good as (or better than) this piano concerto.
Probably a subject for another thread - but regarding the commissioning of recordings by labels such as Hyperion - how does this work? What's the process? I would be fascinated to know. I am sure all of us have unrecorded piano concertos in our heads that we would love to ask Hyperion and others to record (mine are Sokolov, Skorulsky, etc), and clearly some of us actually have the contacts to do that! My question is - Hyperion must also have their own list. What is the selection process?
I imagine it starts with finding someone who'd be prepared to learn whatever might be on the list...
Absolutely correct, Alan.
... and then the conversation will turn to who's going to pay for it.
...and the fact that there are more pianists than violinists presumably explains the comparative paucity of releases in the RVC series.
I don't necessarily agree with you Alan, because although you be on to something in approximating the ratio of pianists to violinists, it doesn't quite explain why other labels have been able to release quite a number of romantic violin concertos (without having any committed series of any kind)... I'm thinking Gernsheim, Holbrooke, Reznicek - this only from CPO during the last 2 years but Hyperion released the last of its (sung but nevertheless wonderful) Bruch series in early-2017, recorded in 2015. This seems more a Hyperion issue rather than a lack of Violinists.
You may well be right. Mind you, we are supposed to be getting Scharwenka and Lassen from Linus Roth on Hyperion.
And with that, back to the subject of the thread...
re Bobinski's 2nd concerto Op.12, I have no information about the score, but a reduction of its slow movement was published by Idzikowski, if I understand a catalog listing right. Even failing finding the full score/parts published or ms of Op.12, it might be that that slow movement reduction could also be a good piece to play (Worldcat anyway only lists, it seems, by Bobinski, the concerto, a few solo piano works (2 pieces Op.5, Pensée Op.14, Légende Op.4, Andante doloroso Op.15, Sérénade and Canzonetta from Op.17, that movement published as Op.12), and a number of works by Grieg and others edited/arranged by him.)
My Ukrainian colleague has kindly sent me a translation of what is being said for 4 minutes at the start of the Pukhalski performance:
The history of our piano department began in 1868. The key figure who helped to establish musical and piano studies in Ukraine was composer, public figure, activist, musician Volodymyr Puhalskyy. Puhalskyy was said to be founder of 'Kyiv School' of piano. Volodymyr Horowitz is one of the famous students of Puhalskyy. To commemorate this famous pianist, who was born and educated in Kyiv, the most successful professional musical project in Ukraine was established in 1995 – the V. Horowitz International Competition for Young Pianists. Today Horowitz Competition is the only competition in Ukraine which participates in the World Federation of International Musical Contests and it's also part of the European Organization of Contests for Youth. One of the traditions of the Institute of Music is the opportunity to discover new pieces of musical culture. For example, Kyrylo Karabets (or Kirill Karabits) discovered a previously unknown symphony by Prokofyev written in his young age, and this piece has been performed by an orchestra. Vyacheslav Zubkov, who was one of the winners of the Horowitz contest, performed the Puhalskyy D Minor concerto in 2005 . This piece has been forgotten for many years , despite the fact that in the 1920s Puhalskyy himself played this piece at various venues in Kyiv and abroad. Thanks to the efforts of Ukrainian musical historian, Yuriy Zilberman ... and thanks to the international charitable fund of Volodymyr Horowitz, which ordered the sheet music to be written by Viktoria Polyova – this great piece written by Puhalskyy has been brought back to life.
(And then she announces the piece: "Volodymyr Puhalskyy, Concerto for piano and orchestra in D Minor, 1st part".)
*******************************
(SEPARATELY - does anyone know anything about this early previously unknown Prokofiev symphony? I wonder if it might be in late romantic vein before he went down another route.. I found a hint here - "Ukrainian online radio to broadcast unknown Prokofiev symphony" https://www.kyivpost.com/article/guide/music/ukrainian-online-radio-to-broadcast-unknown-prokofiev-symphony-384619.html (https://www.kyivpost.com/article/guide/music/ukrainian-online-radio-to-broadcast-unknown-prokofiev-symphony-384619.html) - March 27, 2015:
The Russian composer has written the symphony in 1902 when he was just 11-¬years-¬old and lived in Sontsovka, today's Donetsk Oblast. It is believed to be his first symphony.
The work was kept in a Moscow archive and has never been played for public. Ukrainian conductor Kirill Karabits has recently discovered the script of the symphony.
Karabits recorded it with the Symphonic Orchestra of the Glier Kyiv Institute of Music on March 21 during a concert dedicated to the 140th anniversary of Glier's birthday and consisted of his students' works.
The manuscript of the symphony found by Karabits was titled "To my teacher Reinhold Moritzevich Gliere." As a child, Prokofiev was taking music lessons with Gliere, another Russian composer, every summer.
"Imagine you found unknown recording of The Beatles which has never been published before. It's the same feeling", radio host of "Aristokraty" Yaroslav Lodygin says. "There are millions of Prokofiev fans around the world and now they have opportunity to listen to his first work. And it's weighty that it was recorded here in Kyiv".
The two¬-hour-¬long radio show will also include an interview with conductor Karabits and Yuriy Zilberman, deputy head of the Gliere Kyiv Institute of Music.
Karabits plans to record Prokofiev symphony in London and give it to BBC Three broadcasting. )
Quote from: Christopher on Monday 24 December 2018, 13:15
(SEPARATELY - does anyone know anything about this early previously unknown Prokofiev symphony?
...answering my own question - it's on this CD - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prokofiev-Symphonies-Op-111-Movement-Symphony/dp/B015HNXTTI (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prokofiev-Symphonies-Op-111-Movement-Symphony/dp/B015HNXTTI)
Various amazon reviews say: "
This final CD contains the composer's earliest attempt at a symphony, written in 1902 at the age of just 11. The surviving movement receives its world première recording on this disc... the main selling point of this disc is the fragment of a symphony from 1902. Don't get too excited; it lasts just over 3 minutes and doesn't sound like Prokofiev at all...An interesting fragment that was discovered by Mr. Karabits from a symphony Prokofiev wrote in 1902 is included. The symphony was dedicated to Rheinhold Gliere, who was one of the composer's teachers. The fragment is brief but highly interesting, and shows what Prokofiev's thought were at the time."
...and with that, back to the subject of this thread, please...