Shura Cherkassky plays Abram Chasins - I

Three Chinese Pieces No.1, "-A Shanghai Tragedy-"

~~~

"Shura Cherkassky" by Abram Chasins:

In 1927, when Shura was 16, I was both the pupil and assistant of Josef Hofmann, who as Dean of the Curtis Institute, also appointed me as Chairman of the Secondary Education Department. At that time, Shura was already famous as a genuine "wonder-child," when his parents were wise enough to send him to study with the unique Hofmann, who appreciated Shura's fabulous pianistic talents, his fire and virtuosity and beauty of tone. Shura is a worthy disciple.

Early in 1927, Hofmann asked me to teach Shura Composition and Analyses.

Apart from my admiration for Shura's remarkable pianism, I came to hold him in deep affection through our weekly sessions for over two years. He also began to play my "Three Chinese Pieces," which at that time were played by virtually every pianist on the platform, from Hofmann down and up again. And it is my pleasure to tell you that Shura played them with fantastic color and virtuosity.

I well remember once coming back to Philadelphia from a concert trip during which Shura had played a New York Carnegie Hall recital. The first thing Hofmann told me was that he had attended Shura's concert, that Shura had played as an encore "Rush Hour in Hong Kong," and then added, "You know, he plays it better than we do!" Shura has recorded the Three Chinese Pieces twice, now they are out of circulation, and I do wish he'd record them a third time.

~~~

Abram Chasins (1903 1987)

American composer and pianist, born in New York, studied at the Juilliard School of Music, Columbia University and Curtis Institute of Music, under teachers including Ernest Hutcheson, Rubin Goldmark and Józef Hofmann.

Chasins' career as a pianist lasted from 1927 until 1947. For a decade beginning in 1935, he was an outstanding pianist throughout the world, appearing in solo recitals and with leading orchestras everywhere. On January 1, 1929, he made his debut playing his own Piano Concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra. From 1926 to 1935 he taught piano as a member of the faculty of the Curtis Institute. Chasins was associated with the radio station WQXR from 1941 to 1965, becoming the music director in 1946. In 1949 he married Constance Keene, a pianist and former student of his, with whom he performed and recorded piano duos. In 1972 he joined the University of Southern California as musician-in-residence, and reorganized the student-run radio station KUSC into a channel for classical and modern music. He retired in 1977, and died of cancer at his home in Manhattan on June 21, 1987.

Chasins wrote over 100 compositions, mostly for the piano, and was the first American composer to have his works performed by Toscanini. His Three Chinese Pieces were performed by celebrated pianists including Josef Lhévinne and Józef Hofmann. He also wrote a number of books on music and musicians, including Speaking of Pianists (1958), The Van Cliburn Legend (1959), The Appreciation of Music (1966), Music at the Crossroads (1972) and Stoki, the Incredible Apollo (1978), a biography of Leopold Stokowski.

~~~

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shura
• Cherkassky
• Abram
• Chasins
• Chinese
• Pieces
• Hofmann
• Lhevinne
• Horowitz
• Curzon
• Toscanini
• Brailowsky
• Rubinstein
• Gabrilowitsch
• Stokowski
• Julliard
• Curtis

[The1Wagner1]

Chasins always has an atmospheric presence in his piano compositions. He has always charmed me. It is a shame it is so little published and performed.

[marcxopoco]

Chasins has nothing original to offer as a composer.

[BeeGae]

Very Beautiful Piece. I Love it