Book Description

Polish-born composer and pianist Ignaz Friedman summarized his approach to music by stating simply: "There are the notes, there is what is behind the notes." In Allan Evans's biography of the master pianist he shows the reader the behind and the between of Friedman's life and work. An admirable task, since an account of Friedman has appeared in only one book to date, and weighed in at only a few paragraphs. Friedman's repertory emphasized the major works of Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, and Brahms, but also included new scores by Novák, Palmgren, Karl Weigl, Kodály, and Glazunov. He is most notably associated with his interpretation of the Chopin Mazurkas, which by all accounts he played with the same rhythmic nuance as their composer. Evans examines Friedman's life as a cultured Jewish musician from Poland; his studies in Leipzig and Vienna; his marriage to Many Schidlowsky: and his performing career, teaching, and retirement in Australia.