20 pp., $14.95, Presser Order number 491-01031 (VOXH-6)
The composer says:
As a pianist, I was particularly “addicted” to the Mazurkas of Chopin. Here,
in these priceless gems of piano music, Chopin proved himself to be “a 20th
Century composer who visited the 19th Century” (if I correctly remember this
description of him). Modern harmonies infrequently encountered in other
compositions of Chopin’s are strikingly employed in the Mazurkas particularly
those composed during his last period of creativity. Not many modern composers
write mazurkas. Szymanowski was an exception. He was a model for me to try my
hand in composing two mazurkas, one as a joke and the other in a more serious
mien.
The Etude was composed when I studied Bartok’s harmonies, but following
Chopin’s example in Etude op. 25, No. 10, I have “sneaked into” the middle
of the piece a melody of a Polish popular song. The Sonata is a “tour de
force.” Many masters contributed their influence: Mozart’s Minuet in the 3rd
movement being quite obvious, the 4th movement’s Rondo is based on a lively
Argentine dance, the Gato. Elegy for Icarus is an expression of sorrow
for the passing away of my beloved companion. Its transcription for organ is
published separately there I have described at length my feeling of acute loss.
Hilary
Koprowski was born in Warsaw, Poland. He graduated in piano from the Warsaw
Conservatory but turned to medicine, obtained his M.D. degree in Warsaw in 1939,
and adopted scientific research as his life’s work. He continued his musical
studies in Rome, where he graduated from the Santa Cecilia Academy in 1940. It
is only now, following great success and notoriety in his career as a scientist,
that Dr. Koprowski has allowed himself the time to pursue his musical interests
that have always meant so much to him.
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