These passages
are not reckoned essential to the melody, but are considered only
as grace notes introduced according to the fancy of the singer,
when the only limitations by which the performer is bound are the
notes peculiar to that particular melody and a strict regard to
time."
Chopin founded no school, although the possibilities of the piano
were canalized by him. In playing, as in composition, only the
broad trend of his discoveries may be followed, for his was a
manner not a method. He has had for followers Liszt, Rubinstein,
Mikuli, Zarembski, Nowakowski, Xaver Scharwenka, Saint-Saens,
Scholtz, Heller, Nicode, Moriz Moszkowski, Paderewski, Stojowski,
Arenski, Leschetizki, the two Wieniawskis, and a whole group of
the younger Russians Liadoff, Scriabine and the rest. Even Brahms-
-in his F sharp major Sonata and E flat minor Scherzo--shows
Chopin's influence. Indeed but for Chopin much modern music would
not exist.
But a genuine school exists not. Henselt was only a German who
fell asleep and dreamed of Chopin. To a Thalberg-ian euphony he
has added a technical figuration not unlike Chopin's, and a
spirit quite Teutonic in its sentimentality.
Pages:
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123