[Godowsky, Leopold. (1870–1938)] Huss, Henry Holden. (1862–1953) & Boyle, George Frederick. (1886–1948).
Two Scores inscribed to Leopold Godowsky
Two printed music scores, inscribed by their respective composers to the influential pianist and composer Leopold Godowsky. As follows:Boyle, George F. : Concerto in D minor for Piano & Orchestra. Arranged for Two Pianos – New York, cop. 1912, Schirmer. 23256c. 65, [1] p. 345 mm – Autograph inscription by Boyle to Leopold Godowsky on title verso: "To Leopold Godowsky with the deepest admiration / George F. Boyle / Baltimore / Jan 24th, 1914." Wrappers soiled and torn around the edges, first few leaves with small tear to upper margin, else fine.
Huss, Henry Holden: Concerto In B for Pianoforte and Orchestra. For Two Pianos. Second Edition – New York, cop. 1898, Schirmer. 22290. 65, [1] p. 340 mm – Inscribed by the author to title: "Hommage a M. Godowsky. Henry Holden Huss”. Wrappers soiled and torn around the edges, first few leaves with small tears and corrner losses to upper edge, last three pages lower right corner perished, else fine.
American composer, pianist and music teacher, Henry Huss grew up in New York City, the son of German immigrant parents. After studying piano and organ locally with a teacher who had trained at the Leipzig Conservatory, Huss traveled to Munich to study at the Royal Conservatory with Josef Rheinberger, then returning to the States and embarking on a career as a touring piano virtuoso. As a composer, he was regarded as one of the best of his generation by those who counted, but unfortunately, it was at a time when American composers could rarely get a hearing for their works. An exhaustive study of Huss' life and music, with a complete catalog of compositions, has been published: Henry Holden Huss: An American Composer's Life, by Gary A. Greene (1995, Scarecrow Press (Metuchen NJ and London)
Australian, and later American pianist, composer and pedagogue, George Frederick Boyle moved to the United States in 1910 and remained there until his death in 1948. Taught the piano by his mother and later by Sydney Moss, in 1901, aged 14 or 15, he made a concert tour of more than 280 towns and cities in Australia and New Zealand, the first of a number of tours. In 1904, the visiting Polish pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski met Boyle and suggested that he study with Ferruccio Busoni in Berlin. Boyle was touring with Mark Hambourg at the time, and it was Hambourg who ensured Boyle was introduced to Busoni in 1905. He studied with Busoni for five years, from 1905 to 1910. In 1909 Boyle played Chopin's 1st Piano Concerto at The Proms, under Henry Wood, an engagement that Busoni had secured for him. Also in 1909, Busoni edited Franz Liszt's Polonaise No. 2 by replacing the existing ending, which he considered unsatisfactory, with a more fitting brilliant cadenza and coda, and dedicated this edition to George Frederick Boyle. Boyle himself became renowned as a performer of Liszt's Sonata in B minor. After moving to the United States in 1910, Boyle gave the American premiere of Debussy's Préludes. On Busoni's recommendation, he taught at the Peabody Institute (1910–22), succeeding his Australian countryman Ernest Hutcheson as head of the piano department when aged only 24. He then taught at the Curtis Institute of Music (1924–26), and the Juilliard School (1923–40) and his students included Aaron Copland, Alex North, Samuel Barber and Elmer Burgess.
(19788)Autograph Document Printed Music Classical Music