Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Poland

Birth

:

ca. 1870 in Strzelce

Death

:

November 5, 1946

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Zygmunt Stojowski was a Polish-American composer and pianist who was born on August 5, 1870, in Strzelce, Poland. He was the son of a music teacher and began his musical education at a young age. He studied piano with his father and later with Aleksander Michałowski, a renowned pianist and teacher in Warsaw. Stojowski also studied composition with Władysław Żeleński at the Warsaw Conservatory. In 1890, Stojowski moved to Paris to continue his studies at the Conservatoire de Paris. He studied piano with Antoine François Marmontel and composition with Jules Massenet and Gabriel Fauré. During his time in Paris, Stojowski became friends with many prominent musicians, including Ignacy Jan Paderewski, who would later become the Prime Minister of Poland. After completing his studies in Paris, Stojowski began a successful career as a concert pianist and composer. He performed throughout Europe and the United States, earning critical acclaim for his virtuosic piano playing. He also composed a wide range of works, including orchestral pieces, chamber music, and solo piano works. One of Stojowski's most famous works is his Piano Concerto No. 2 in A-flat major, Op. 32. The concerto was composed in 1903 and premiered in Paris the following year. It is a virtuosic work that showcases Stojowski's technical prowess as a pianist and his skill as a composer. The concerto has been performed by many notable pianists, including Vladimir Horowitz and Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Stojowski also composed several other notable works, including his Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 9, which was premiered in Warsaw in 1898. The symphony is a dramatic work that showcases Stojowski's skill as an orchestrator. He also composed several chamber music works, including his Piano Trio in F minor, Op. 10, which was premiered in Paris in 1897. In addition to his career as a composer and pianist, Stojowski was also a respected teacher. He taught at the Institute of Music in Warsaw and later at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. His students included many notable musicians, including Arthur Rubinstein and Samuel Barber. Stojowski became a naturalized American citizen in 1926 and continued to compose and perform throughout his life. He died on November 5, 1946, in New York City at the age of 76. In conclusion, Zygmunt Stojowski was a talented composer and pianist who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His works are known for their technical virtuosity and dramatic flair, and his influence as a teacher can still be felt today through the many musicians he taught. Stojowski's legacy continues to inspire new generations of musicians and music lovers around the world.

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