The Godowsky Kreisler Collection: the Complete Works for Violin and Piano

American Music Teacher, Oct-Nov, 2004 by T.J. Lymenstull

The Godowsky Kreisler Collection: The Complete Works for Violin and Piano, by Leopold Godowsky and Fritz Kreisler. Carl Fischer (65 Bleeker St., New York, NY 10012), 2004. 126pp. $19.95. Advanced.

Leopold Godowsky, one of the great pianist-composers of the early twentieth century, produced an extensive oeuvre of original compositions, almost exclusively for piano. Among the few pieces for other instruments are these compositions for violin and piano, collected here in their entirety.

The titles of these elegant and colorful character-pieces give a sense of the moods and characters: "Poeme," "Elegie," "Valse Macabre," "Orientale" and "Tyrolean." They are based mostly on works he had originally written for piano, but the pieces are stylistic and idiomatic for both instruments and do not have the feel of transcriptions. The complex chromatic texture, reminiscent of Rachmaninoff's transcriptions of Fritz Kreisler, requires deft touch and delicate pedaling from the pianist, while the delicious lateromantic salon style allows the violinist wide scope for imagination, musical personality and performance flair.

The editing of the violin part is a fascinating study in itself. The majority of these pieces, the Twelve Impressions, were fingered and edited by Kreisler, to whom the pieces were dedicated. The remainder were edited by Leopold Godowsky, Jr., violinist and son of the composer. The son's fingerings are excellent and practical, but Kreisler's are highly personal and idiomatic. The carefully indicated shifts and slides give the performer or student a fascinating window on Kreisler's playing, and on how this late romantic style is brought to life on the instrument.

The publication itself is cleanly laid out and well bound; the only drawback being an inconvenient lack of measure numbers or rehearsal letters.

Overall, these attractive and charming pieces will be welcome additions to concert programs and fascinating studies in style for advanced students.

I would like to express special thanks to Javier Pinell, assistant professor of violin at the University of Wyoming and my colleague at Interlochen Arts Camp, for reading these pieces through with me and sharing his suggestions and observations. Reviewed by T. J. Lymenstull, Interlochen, Michigan.