Zbigniew Drzewiecki
Encyclopedia
Zbigniew Drzewiecki (8 April 1890 – 11 April 1971) was a Polish
pianist
especially associated with the interpretation of Chopin's works, who was for most of his life a teacher of pianists. His pupils include several famous pianists of the 20th century, and his influence was therefore very pervasive.
Drzewiecki was born in Warsaw
. He commenced study under his father, and then, at Warsaw, under Oberfeldt and Pilecki. After he had matriculated he went (from 1909 to 1914) to Vienna
, to the atelier of Theodor Leschetizky, where he studied with Mme Marie Prentner, the master's assistant. He gave many recitals in Polish towns, and also in Vienna, Prague
and Berlin
.
In 1916 he became professor of advanced pianoforte classes at the Warsaw Conservatory, and continued to teach there until his death in 1971. He assisted in establishing the International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition
s, and served upon their juries from the first occasion, 1927, until 1971. After the Second World War, and especially after the death of Józef Turczyński
(1884-1953), he was considered the greatest Polish piano teacher.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
especially associated with the interpretation of Chopin's works, who was for most of his life a teacher of pianists. His pupils include several famous pianists of the 20th century, and his influence was therefore very pervasive.
Drzewiecki was born in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. He commenced study under his father, and then, at Warsaw, under Oberfeldt and Pilecki. After he had matriculated he went (from 1909 to 1914) to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, to the atelier of Theodor Leschetizky, where he studied with Mme Marie Prentner, the master's assistant. He gave many recitals in Polish towns, and also in Vienna, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
In 1916 he became professor of advanced pianoforte classes at the Warsaw Conservatory, and continued to teach there until his death in 1971. He assisted in establishing the International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition
International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition
The International Chopin Piano Competition , often referred to as the Chopin Competition, is a piano competition held in Warsaw, Poland to honour the name of Frédéric Chopin. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious music competitions in the world...
s, and served upon their juries from the first occasion, 1927, until 1971. After the Second World War, and especially after the death of Józef Turczyński
Józef Turczynski
Jozéf Turczyński was a Polish pianist, pedagogue and musicologist who exercised a powerful influence over the development of piano teaching and performance, especially in the works of Frédéric Chopin, during the first half of the 20th century...
(1884-1953), he was considered the greatest Polish piano teacher.
Students of Drzewiecki
This is a list (not complete) of famous pianists who studied with Drzewiecki.- Ryszard BakstRyszard BakstRyszard Bakst was a Polish and British pianist and piano teacher of Jewish/Polish/Russian origin.Bakst was a descendant of the Russian artist Leon Bakst...
- Felicja BlumentalFelicja BlumentalFelicja Blumental was a Polish--Brazilian pianist.Felicja Blumental was born in Warsaw, Poland, into a musical family, daughter of a violinist. She began piano lessons at the age of five, and made her debut at the age of ten...
- Walter BuczynskiWalter BuczynskiWalter Joseph Buczynski is a Canadian composer, music educator, and pianist.Buczynski earned an associates degree from The Royal Conservatory of Music in 1951 and a Licentiate in 1953. While there he studied music composition with Godfrey Ridout and piano with Earle Moss...
- Halina Czerny-StefańskaHalina Czerny-StefanskaHalina Czerny-Stefańska was a Polish pianist.She studied piano under her father, Stanislaw Szwarcenberg-Czerny, as well as with Alfred Cortot at the École Normale de Musique in Paris, and later with Józef Turczyński and Zbigniew Drzewiecki in Warsaw...
- Róża Etkin-MoszkowskaRóza Etkin-MoszkowskaRóża Etkin , known after marriage as Róża Etkin-Moszkowska, was a Polish pianist.Etkin, who showed considerable talent early in life, was the youngest contestant at the inaugural Fryderyk Chopin Competition, where she was awarded the 3rd prize. She was a pupil of Aleksander Michałowski and Zbigniew...
- Lidia Grychtołówna
- Adam HarasiewiczAdam HarasiewiczAdam Harasiewicz is a Polish classical concert pianist.He won the first prize at the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in 1955....
- Władisław Kędra
- Bolesław Kon
- Hiroko NakamuraHiroko Nakamurais a Japanese pianist. She is the youngest, and the second Japanese prizewinner at the 7th International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition...
- Edward OlearczykEdward OlearczykEdward Olearczyk was a Polish composer. He was born in Rawa Ruska and studied with Zbigniew Drzewiecki at the conservatory in Warsaw. From 1939-1945 he worked in the USSR, and after returning to Poland, worked in Warsaw as a stage director in the Polish Army.Olearczyk was known primarily as a...
- Eva Osińska
- Regina SmendziankaRegina SmendziankaRegina Smendzianka was a Polish pianist.Regina Smendzianka was born in Toruń, and began her public performances as a child of eight surprising the audience with her mature interpretation of the classical works...
- John TilburyJohn TilburyJohn Tilbury is a British pianist. He is considered one of the foremost interpreters of Morton Feldman's music, and since 1980 has been a member of the free improvisation group AMM.- Early life and education :...
- Fou Ts'ongFou Ts'ongFou Ts'ong is a Chinese pianist.Born in Shanghai to a family of intellectuals , Fou first studied piano with Mario Paci, the Italian founder of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra...
- Roger WoodwardRoger WoodwardRoger Woodward AC OBE is an Australian classical concert pianist.-Biography:Roger Woodward was born in 1942 in Chatswood, a suburb of Sydney, the youngest of four children to Gladys and Frank Woodward...
Sources
- A. Eaglefield-Hull, Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians (Dent, London 1924).
- J. Methuen-Campbell, Chopin Playing from the Composer to the Present Day (Gollancz, London 1981).