Ignaz Friedman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ignaz Friedman
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| Born |
Solomon Isaac Freudman
February 13, 1882 Podgórze, Kraków, Austrian Poland
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| Died | January 26, 1948 (age 65) |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Occupation | Pianist and Composer |
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Ignaz Friedman (born Solomon Isaac Freudman) was a famous Polish pianist and composer. Many music experts and other great musicians, like Sergei Rachmaninoff, believed he was one of the best piano players of his era. He was often mentioned alongside other piano legends such as Leopold Godowsky and Josef Hofmann.
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Early Life and Musical Training
Ignaz Friedman was born in a place called Podgórze, near Kraków, which is now part of Poland. He was born on February 13, 1882. From a very young age, he showed amazing talent for music, becoming a child prodigy.
He studied music with important teachers. He learned from Hugo Riemann in Leipzig, Germany, and later from Theodor Leschetizky in Vienna, Austria. He also took special classes with the famous musician Ferruccio Busoni.
Friedman lived in Berlin, Germany, until 1914. Later, in 1920, he moved to Copenhagen, Denmark.
A Brilliant Music Career
Ignaz Friedman made his official debut as a pianist in Vienna in 1904. He played three piano concertos, which showed off his incredible skill. This was a challenging program, similar to what other top pianists like Busoni and Godowsky would play.
Friedman's playing style was known for being calm and seemingly effortless. He had a great sense of rhythm and could make the piano sound very colorful. Many people especially admired his performances of music by Frédéric Chopin. Some even say his Chopin performances, especially of the mazurkas, were the best ever.
Even though he gave about 2,800 concerts in his life, his playing style was sometimes seen as old-fashioned by younger critics in America. However, other great musicians like Sergei Rachmaninoff truly admired Friedman's playing. Rachmaninoff thought Friedman was a fantastic virtuoso, even more romantic in his style than Rachmaninoff himself. Friedman's deep understanding of music and his unique way of playing helped people understand the great composers he performed.
Later Years and Retirement
When World War II started, Ignaz Friedman was in Europe. Luckily, he got an offer for a concert tour in Australia at the last minute. This allowed him to escape the war. He settled in Sydney, Australia, and lived there until he passed away on January 26, 1948.
His very last concert was in Sydney on July 24, 1943. After this, a nerve problem in his left hand, called neuritis, made it impossible for him to perform anymore. He had to retire from playing concerts.
His Musical Legacy
Even though Ignaz Friedman made relatively few recordings, they are still highly respected today. Many of his recordings, especially his Chopin pieces and his nine Songs Without Words by Felix Mendelssohn, have been collected and released on CDs. Sadly, many of his radio recordings from Australia and New Zealand have been lost over time.
Friedman also composed more than 90 musical pieces. Most of these were short piano pieces, but he also wrote music for the cello and a piano quintet (a piece for piano and four other instruments). While his compositions are not as famous as his playing, they show his talent as a creator. He also arranged many works by other composers, like Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti.
He also helped create editions of piano works by famous composers like Chopin, Robert Schumann, and Franz Liszt. These editions helped other musicians learn and play these pieces correctly.
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Australia gives out an annual award called the Ignaz Friedman Prize for composition, honoring his contributions to music. Friedman also taught several important pianists who went on to have their own successful careers.
Images for kids
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Ignaz Friedman
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Ignaz Friedman's memorial plaque in Berlin-Wilmersdorf, Germany
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The house at 22 Kalwaryjska Street in Krakow, where Ignaz Friedman was born
