Posted by Andrew Cockburn on November 07, 19100 at 05:33:30:
In response to Despina Constantinou's message about the possible influence of Alkan on Godowsky's writing for the L.H., my feeling - no hard evidence though - is that his style for the L.H. is so SUI GENERIS, and so expressive of the core of Godowsky's pianistic personality, that it owes little or nothing to the influence of Alkan. (Or, for that matter, Ravel - who after all was five years his junior). I doubt if Godowsky qwas "inspired" by Alkan's works when he began writing for the L.H. This no doubt began in the 1890's when - at the age of 23 - he began to write his studies on Chopin's studies.
His mature L.H. writing reached its peak in 1929 when he composed his Suite, in eight movements, for the L.H.Alone. This work, along with his Passacaglia, Godowsky considered to be his most mature compositions. He wrote of it: "Although written for the L.H. Alone it is not a work for display, but a deeply felt emanation coming from within me..."
The Sarabande and the Minuet - to take just two items - are of immense stature, depth and beauty and deserve to be far better known. This is the only major work of Godowsky yet to be recorded. To judge by his playing of the - extremely difficult - Prelude and Fugue for the L.H. alone Marc-Andre would seem the ideal protagonist for this, largely unknown, masterpiece. Andrew Cockburn.