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Leopold Godowsky

Leopold Mordkhelovich Godowsky Sr. (13 February 1870 – 21 November 1938) was a Lithuanian-born American virtuoso pianist, composer and teacher. He was one of the most highly regarded performers of his time, known for his theories concerning the application of relaxed weight and economy of motion within pianistic technique – principles later propagated by his pupils, such as Heinrich Neuhaus.

He was heralded among musical giants as the "Buddha of the Piano". Ferruccio Busoni claimed that he and Godowsky were "the only composers to have added anything of significance to keyboard writing since Franz Liszt."

As a composer, Godowsky is best known for his Java Suite, Triakontameron, Passacaglia and Walzermasken, alongside his transcriptions of works by other composers: best known work in the field is 53 Studies on Chopin's Études (1894–1914).

Birth and Death Data: Born February 13, 1870 (Žasliai), Died November 21, 1938 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1912 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, arranger, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 160 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-11941 12-in. 4/26/1912 Etude, op. 10, no. 12 Vladimir de Pachmann Piano solo arranger  
Victor C-16987 12-in. 1/8/1916 Wienerisch Fritz Kreisler Violin solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-16987 10-in. 1/8/1916 Wienerisch Fritz Kreisler Violin solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-24477 10-in. 9/17/1920 Waltz in D major Jascha Heifetz Violin solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-31640 10-in. 6/11/1925 Tambourin Shura Cherkassky Piano solo arranger  
Victor B-31640 10-in. 1/9/1925 Tambourin Shura Cherkassky Piano solo arranger  
Victor BVE-32526 10-in. 4/20/1925 Tambourin Guiomar Novaës Piano solo arranger  
Victor BVE-32527 10-in. 4/20/1925 Tango Guiomar Novaës Piano solo arranger  
Victor BVE-49147 10-in. 11/30/1928 Nocturnal Tangier Fritz Kreisler Violin solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-49811 10-in. 1/30/1929 Alt Wien Isabelle Yalkovsky Piano solo composer  
Victor BVE-59493 10-in. 5/1/1930 Pastorale Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor BS-81353 10-in. 2/3/1934 Alt wien Jascha Heifetz ; Arpad Sandor Violin solo, with piano composer  
Victor BS-066112 10-in. 6/16/1941 Rendezvous Reginald Stewart Piano solo composer  
Victor D9VB-0917 10-in. 2/22/1949 Alt wien Three Suns Instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia 36693 12-in. 4/10/1913 Two songs without words Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 36694 12-in. 4/10/1913 Campanella Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 36695 12-in. 4/10/1913 Prelude in D-flat Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 36696 12-in. 4/10/1913 Hark! Hark! The lark Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 36697 12-in. ca. 1913-1917 Polonaise in A-flat Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 36698 12-in. ca. 1913 Prelude in B-flat major Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 36699 12-in. ca. 1913 Waltz in C-sharp minor Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 36700 12-in. 4/10/1913 Berceuse Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 36701 12-in. ca. 1913 Nocturne in E-flat Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 36890 12-in. ca. 1914 Gnomenreigen Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 36891 12-in. 3/4/1914 Waltz in G flat Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 1-25 of 160 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Godowsky, Leopold," accessed November 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102653.

Godowsky, Leopold. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102653.

"Godowsky, Leopold." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102653

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