Thaddeus Kozuch - concert pianist, teacher, lecturer, scholar, composer ... a "Brilliant Piano Virtuoso"
Be sure to see
the new photo
Galleries in the
BIO page.
Thaddeus Kozuch recital - Orchestra Hall Chicago - Tuesday February 6, 1940
Thaddeus Kozuch
piano recordings
Performances from 1947 to 1991
Welcome to the official Musical Artist Portfolio of concert pianist, teacher, lecturer, scholar, and composer Thaddeus Kozuch. Completely American-trained, the young Thaddeus quickly became known as a musical prodigy, performing many challenging works at a maturity level far beyond his age. Over his 70+ years career, Kozuch's performances have been heralded by commentators and enthusiastic music lovers of all ages. Upon hearing the young lad perform Chopin, Artur Rubinstein commented that Thaddeus possessed "a rare talent and maturity". Vladimir Horowitz also noted that Kozuch had "fabulous fingers, great dexterity".
More information about Thaddeus Kozuch may be found on the BIO pages.
ThaddeusKozuch.com
Mission
This was long overdue
In the last century, Thaddeus Kozuch was an example of one of the great "unknown" Americans and concert pianists of his generation. This situation needed to be rectified, therefore ... our website was born in May of 2021.
These recording archives and sound edits were initially presented to honor our father. Upon reflection, however, the work was needed for even more important historical, musical, and archival reasons - and also on behalf of Chicago's Polish-American community.
The website is especially created for Classical piano music lovers and piano performance historians everywhere. Thanks to the many advances in communications via the internet, what in the past was known only to the fortunate few ... is now universally available.
Our mission goals are to:
● continue adding content and more recordings to the website
● promote the website online and with various organizations
● create Youtube links for convenient worldwide access
● donate the website to a new organization (yet to be selected)
Enjoy ! and thank you from Jon Kozuch, with my sister Ann, and help from our extended family.
PS - If desired, we will email you when more music content is loaded. We just would like to know your name and email in the Contact Us page.
Recording technology
The recordings on this website were made from Thaddeus Kozuch's concert recitals, commercial recording studios, and his Chicago home studio. There is also a recording made by RTF (Radio TV France) in a Paris radio studio during Thaddeus Kozuch's 1960 recital travels in Europe.
Early DePaul University tapes --- Thaddeus Kozuch was a Professor and head of the DePaul University Music School's piano department, where he taught and performed often for nearly 30 years. Unfortunately, the DePaul faculty recitals were not recorded regularly, and those few recital recording tapes that were given to Mr. Kozuch are extremely distorted with very poor audio quality. All remaining DePaul recordings were (sadly) discarded when the university music school moved to its new Chicago campus.
Later DePaul University recordings --- In light of the above situation, Kozuch's son Jon began making concert and studio recordings in the later years. Before 1970 recordings were done on an Ampex reel-to-reel tape recorder. The recordings starting in 1970 were done with a Revox studio quality tape recorder using a Dolby-B noise reduction unit and two Sony condenser microphones. During a time while Jon was not in Chicago, the earliest of these (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973) were done by a friend of the family with improper settings that (unfortunately) created significant distortion on the original tapes. In the 1980's a Sony DAT tape recorder replaced the Revox/Dolby combination still using the same condenser microphones. In the 1980's a VHS video camera was used, and later a VCR with Hi-Fi sound. In the mid-to-late 1990's, with the advent of digital audio and video data streaming formats and their storage on computers, all recordings were digitized and placed on a network server using lossless audio methods.
Lucky discovery --- Works recently discovered from a 60-year old 1963 reel-to-reel tape made by a friend of the family have been edited to correct audio pitch dropouts, and to properly match the piano's tuning. The ThaddeusKozuch.com website now contains the first of these, Kozuch's only recordings of several Chopin Etudes. The sound quality is acceptable, given the poor quality of the original media.
78 rpm discs --- The website also has a good number of 1947 disc transfers of works that best illustrate Kozuch's early performances (Hint: check out the incredible Prokofiev 6th sonata recording).
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Thaddeus Kozuch
... Brilliant Piano Virtuoso
Pianist Thaddeus Kozuch has always been musically gifted and a brilliant virtuoso. From a young age Thaddeus performed a variety of works at a very advanced technical and musical level. Over the years, critics and audiences alike have been amazed by his superb technique and fleeting finger work.
Beyond purely technical facility, Thaddeus Kozuch's Chopin musical interpretations have become known as a particular specialty and highlight of his career. Kozuch has been recognized as a scholar, educator and deeply thoughtful performer of Frédéric Chopin's and many other composers' works.
QUICK LINKS below:
Updates
10/08/2024 - New Image GALLERY 1 1920s Young Thaddeus
10/08/2024 - New Image GALLERY 2 1930s College & Early Career
10/08/2024 - New Image GALLERY 3 1940 Orchestra Hall Debut
10/08/2024 - New Image GALLERY 4 1940s PreWar
10/08/2024 - Removed the "The Early Years" section (obsolete now)
10/10/2024 - New Image GALLERY 5 WW-II
10/10/2024 - Removed the previous menu for WW-II (see new GALLERY 5 in the BIO section)
5/26/2024 - Chopin Nocturne Opus 9 #1 from the 1980 Copernicus benefit recital, uploaded.
....................... Each Chopin Nocturne is in its own separate audio playlist for easier access by Opus number.
5/24/2024 - Albéniz Triana from the 1974 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/24/2024 - Playlist music descriptions now indicate if there is also applause following the music.
5/24/2024 - Prokofiev March from the 1979 final DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/17/2024 - Debussy "Isle of Joy" from the October 1976 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/15/2024 - Thaddeus Kozuch compositions from the 1940's performed at different times, uploaded.
5/15/2024 - Rimsky-Korsakov "Flight of the Bumblebee" from a 1970 home studio recording, uploaded.
5/14/2024 - Stravinsky Petrushka 3 movements from the 1972 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/12/2024 - Tcherepnin "Czech Song" from a 1986 home studio recording, uploaded.
5/12/2024 - Poulenc "Pastorale" from the 1972 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/12/2024 - Falla El amor brujo "Pantomime" from the 1974 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/10/2024 - Thaddeus Kozuch's Eight Dances from the 1960 French Radio and TV broadcast, uploaded.
....................... Each piece may be selected from its own individual track.
5/09/2024 - Scriabin Sonata #5 Opus 53 from the 1976 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/08/2024 - Scriabin Etude in B♭ minor Opus 8 No. 10 from the 1974 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/08/2024 - Rachmaninov Etude-tableau Opus 39-5 from the 1973 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/05/2024 - Chopin Mazurkas Opus 68#3 and 68#4 from 1986 studio recordings, uploaded.
....................... The Mazurka Collection now has 17 unique recordings.
5/04/2024 - Szymanowski "Tantris le Bouffon" from the 1978 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/04/2024 - Muczynski Sonata No 3 Opus 35 (1974) from the 1978 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/04/2024 - Haydn Sonata in D Major Hob. XVI.33 from the 1978 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/03/2024 - Liszt "Les Funerailles" #7 from a newly discovered 1963 home tape, uploaded.
5/03/2024 - Liszt Etude #2 "La Leggierezza" from a newly discovered 1963 home tape, uploaded.
5/03/2024 - Chopin Polonaise Opus 26 No. 1 from a newly discovered 1963 home tape, uploaded.
5/03/2024 - Paderewski "Cracovienne" from a 1986 Moraine Valley Community College recital, uploaded.
5/03/2024 - Paderewski "Nocturne" encore from a mid-1970's Elkhart Indiana performance, uploaded.
5/02/2024 - Schubert "12 German Dances" from the 1969 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/02/2024 - Ravel "Valley of the Bells" from the 1969 DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
5/02/2024 - Added new Ravel sub-menu pull-downs.
5/01/2024 - Chopin "funeral march" Sonata #2 Opus 35 from the 1980 Copernicus recital, uploaded.
4/30/2024 - Photo galleries are now on the top menu.
....................... Images are visible by scrolling down the page, selected individually to be seen in detail.
4/19/2024 - Muczynski Suite Opus 13 (1960) from the 1979 final DePaul Faculty recital, uploaded.
4/18/2024 - Each Thaddeus Kozuch video now has a link to its corresponding YOUTUBE VIDEO.
4/17/2024 - First release of the mobile phone formatted version of ThaddeusKozuch.com
4/16/2024 - Ravel Toccata from the 1969 DePaul Faculty recital uploaded.
4/15/2024 - Prokofiev "Diabolical Suggestion" from a 1975 studio recording uploaded.
4/15/2024 - Prokofiev Sonata #7 from a 1970 studio recording uploaded.
4/14/2024 - Prokofiev Sonata #6 from the 1974 DePaul Faculty recital uploaded.
4/12/2024 - Robert Schumann Fantasy in C from the 1968 DePaul Faculty recital uploaded.
4/12/2024 - Szymanowski Mazurkas from 1976 uploaded.
4/02/2024 - WFMT RADIO TRIBUTE BROADCAST of November 3, 1991 uploaded
3/30/2024 - VIDEO uploaded - Thaddeus Kozuch FLUTE Poem ; Ann Fairbanks (Kozuch) flutist.
3/28/2024 - Szymanowski "Tantris le Bouffon" uploaded, a 1963 Kozuch rare tape discovery.
3/28/2024 - Long Overdue thanks and credit is acknowledged for pianist/friend Joseph Stefanits' discovery and help obtaining the RTF broadcast recordings by Thaddeus Kozuch in Paris from 1960.
3/28/2024 - ThaddeusKozuch.com web development has been upgraded to WIX.com Editor.
....................... Menus have improved descriptions.
....................... Pages have more historical notes and comments.
....................... LINKs have been added for direct music access.
3/20/2023 - Smetana - Polka (Bohemian Dance) [from 1968 DePaul recital] uploaded
3/12/2023 - VIDEO uploaded - Ginastera Sonata 1 Opus 22
3/07/2023 - VIDEO uploaded - Robert Muczynski Preludes Opus 6
3/07/2023 - VIDEO uploaded - Chopin's Mazurka Opus 41 No. 2 in E minor
3/05/2023 - VIDEO uploaded - Ravel's Habanera
3/05/2023 - VIDEOs are now located in the corresponding composer sections.
8/19/2021 - Szymanowski Mazurkas from 1986 uploaded
8/19/2021 - Wieniawski Kujawiak from the 1980 studio uploaded
8/18/2021 - Lecuona Gitanerias from the 1986 St. Cecilia recital uploaded
8/18/2021 - Prokofiev March from a 1986 Moraine Valley Community College recital, uploaded.
8/18/2021 - St. Cecilia Grand Rapids correctly identified for 10/03/1986 concert recordings.
8/15/2021 - Chopin Polonaise Opus 26 #2 uploaded
6/18/2021 - Ravel Prelude ... 1979 Houston and DePaul recitals uploaded.
6/18/2021 - Ravel Habanera ... 1986 St. Cecilia Grand Rapids recital uploaded.
6/18/2021 - Ravel La Valse ... 1978 DePaul recital uploaded.
6/18/2021 - Ravel Alborada del Grazioso ... 1979 DePaul recital uploaded.
6/17/2021 - Debussy Preludes Book 1 ... 1975 DePaul recital uploaded.
6/17/2021 - Debussy Preludes Book 2 (selected) ... 1976 DePaul recital uploaded.
6/15/2021 - Chopin Ballades (3 works now in 3 collections) ... uploaded.
6/11/2021 - Chopin Nocturnes (5 works in 8 recordings) ... uploaded.
6/09/2021 - Chopin Mazurkas (15 in collection 1 and 12 in collection 2) ... uploaded.
5/18/2021 - Chopin - Etude VIDEO ... 1986 home studio uploaded.
5/18/2021 - Chopin Nocturne VIDEO ... 1986 home studio uploaded.
5/15/2021 - Brahms Paganini Variations ... 1978 DePaul recital uploaded.
5/15/2021 - Brahms 2-piano waltzes ('Ted & Jackie' Kozuch) ... 1947 studio recording uploaded.
5/12/2021 - Beethoven Sonata #18 ... 1980 DePaul recital uploaded ... the audio files have been re-compressed to the smaller FF-mpeg format with NO loss in fidelity, uploaded 6/08/2024.
5/12/2021 - Beethoven 32 variations in C minor ... two older studio recordings are replaced by the 1976 DePaul recital performance, uploaded 6/06/2024.
5/09/2021 - Bartok Sonata from the 1969 DePaul recital uploaded.
5/03/2021 - ThaddeusKozuch.com website launched with just a few Albeniz recordings and limited narrative.
SUBSCRIBER news
FUTURE subscriber news will be in a new, yet to be installed BLOG.
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September 2021 - Ginny, a student of Thaddeus Kozuch, is now a subscriber
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August 2021 - Ema is our first Serbian subscriber
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June 2021 - Mark is our first Florida subscriber
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May 2021 - Larry is our first world sailor & subscriber
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May 2021 - Kathryn is our first Texas subscriber
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5/24/2021 - Lisa was our very first subscriber !
HISTORICAL information
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Thaddeus Kozuch was a first generation Polish-American patriot.
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Born in Chicago March 5, 1913.
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President of the Society of American Musicians (1965-tbd)
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Inducted into the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in America (PIASA) New York in 1974.
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Professor of piano 30+ years and gave solo and joint recitals at DePaul University.
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Performed as soloist with various orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony.
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Died October 4, 1991 at the age of 78.
Information about his involvement with Polish and American organizations will be added in this section.