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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 - 1941

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 26-50 of 159 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 48548 12-in. 1/21/1916 Moment musical Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48549 12-in. 1/14/1916 Cradle song Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48550 12-in. 1/25/1916 Scotch dances Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48589 12-in. 2/17/1916 Waltz in A flat, op. 42 Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48590 12-in. 2/7/1916 Serenade in D minor Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48591 12-in. 2/7/1916 Concert etude in D flat no. 2 Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48592 12-in. 2/17/1916 Gondoliera in G flat Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48808 12-in. ca. Jan.-May 1916 Serenata Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48809 12-in. 5/26/1917 Romance in F sharp Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48810 12-in. 6/5/1917 Melody in F Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48811 12-in. 6/5/1917 Rustle of spring Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 48812 12-in. 6/5/1916 Rigoletto : Paraphrase Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W144914 10-in. 10/26/1927 Tango José Echániz Piano solo arranger  
Columbia W147983 10-in. 2/21/1929 Wiegenlied José Echániz Piano solo arranger  
Columbia W148462 10-in. 4/18/1929 Rondino Gunnar Johansen Piano solo arranger  
Columbia W150804 10-in. 9/15/1930 Wiegenlied José Echániz Piano solo arranger  
Columbia W98650 12-in. 4/18/1929 Kunstlerleben, part 1 Gunnar Johansen Piano solo arranger  
Columbia W98651 12-in. 4/18/1929 Kunstlerleben, part 2 Gunnar Johansen Piano solo arranger  
Columbia CO19348 10-in. 5/28/1936 Vieja Viena Celso B. Hurtado Marimba solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick 4706 10-in. approximately Dec. 1920 Witches' dance Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick X4708 12-in. approximately Dec. 1920 Marche militaire Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick X5670 12-in. approximately May 1921 Fantasie—Impromptu Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick 5738 10-in. approximately June 1921 Melody in F Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick X5748 12-in. approximately June 1921 Impromptu in A flat Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick X5755 12-in. approximately June 1921 Kamennoi-ostrow Leopold Godowsky Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 26-50 of 159 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Godowsky, Leopold," accessed May 3, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102653.

Godowsky, Leopold. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102653.

"Godowsky, Leopold." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 3 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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