Leopold Godowsky

LEOPOLD GODOWSKY d1938. Polish-American virtuoso pianist, composer and teacher. He was one of the most highly regarded performers of his time – known for his theories concerning the application of relaxed weight and economy of motion within pianistic technic – principles later propagated by Godowsky's pupils including Heinrich Neuhaus. He was heralded among musical giants as the "Buddha of the Piano" and was probably the most astonishing instance of a self-taught performer and creator in the history of art.Ferruccio Busoni claimed that he and Godowsky were "the only composers to have added anything of significance to keyboard writing since Franz Liszt. As a composer, he is best known for his Java Suite / Triakontameron / Passacagalia and Walzermasken. He died of stomach cancer aged 68 on November 21st 1938.