Thaddeus Kozuch - concert pianist, teacher, lecturer, scholar, composer ... a "Brilliant Piano Virtuoso"
Claude Debussy
An Evening in Grenada (1903) L.100
Thaddeus Kozuch often played the music of Spanish and Latin American composers. This famous music with its enchanting Spanish themes, however, was composed by French Impressionist composer Claude Debussy in 1903. La soirée dans Grenade (An Evening in Grenada) was a particular favorite of Kozuch.
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This performance is from Thaddeus Kozuch's Friday evening, October 29, 1976 DePaul University Faculty Recital.
Debussy
An Evening in Grenada
Claude Debussy
The Isle of Joy (1904) L.106
L'isle joyeuse (The Joyful Island) is an alluring and powerful work for solo piano composed in 1904. The painting "The Embarkation for Cythera" by Jean-Antoine Watteau likely served as inspiration for the piece, with Debussy reimagining a group's journey to the island Cythera, considered to be the ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite's birthplace, and their subsequent ecstatic unions of love (sex) upon arrival.
This performance is from Thaddeus Kozuch's Friday evening, October 29, 1976 DePaul University Faculty Recital.
Debussy The Isle of Joy
Claude Debussy
Prelude #6 - Footsteps in the Snow
Debussy's Preludes (like Chopin's) were another specialty of virtuoso pianist Thaddeus Kozuch.
The famous "Footsteps in the Snow" Prelude #6 of the 12 from Debussy's book one, is performed by pianist Thaddeus Kozuch in his home studio on Saturday February 22, 1975.
Peaceful winter snow scenes from around the world accompany the music VIDEO.
Debussy Prelude
Book1 #6
Claude Debussy
Prelude #7 - What the West Wind has Seen
Debussy's Preludes (like Chopin's) were another specialty of virtuoso pianist Thaddeus Kozuch.
This is the thrilling Prelude "What the West Wind has Seen" #7 of the 12 from Debussy's book one, as performed by pianist Thaddeus Kozuch in his home studio on Saturday February 22, 1975.
This piece brings to life the memories of gusty wind and rain storms over land and sea. Images of such storms accompany the music VIDEO.
Debussy Prelude
Book1 #7
Claude Debussy
Prelude #10 - The Sunken Cathedral
Debussy's Preludes (like Chopin's) were another specialty of virtuoso pianist Thaddeus Kozuch.
This is the most famous Prelude, "The Sunken Cathedral" #10 of the 12 from Debussy's book one, as performed by pianist Thaddeus Kozuch in his home studio on Saturday February 22, 1975.
This piece is based on an ancient myth in which a cathedral, submerged underwater off the coast of the Island of Ys, rises up from the sea. Imaginings of sunken cathedrals accompany the music VIDEO.
Debussy Prelude
Book1 #10
Claude Debussy
Prelude #11 - Puck's Dance
Debussy's Preludes (like Chopin's) were another specialty of virtuoso pianist Thaddeus Kozuch.
This is the charming Prelude "Puck's Dance" #11 of the 12 from Debussy's book one, as performed by pianist Thaddeus Kozuch in his home studio on Saturday February 22, 1975.
This piece is a musical depiction of the playfully mischievous character from English folklore who appears in William Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Images of Puck accompany the music VIDEO.
Debussy Prelude
Book1 #11
Debussy Preludes
This performance is from Thaddeus Kozuch's 1975 DePaul University Faculty Recital, at which he also performed the complete 24 Preludes of Chopin.
Debussy's Preludes are a fundamental staple of the classical piano repertoire.
Audiences enthusiastically looked forward with anticipation whenever Thaddeus Kozuch scheduled a performance of Debussy's Preludes.
Debussy Preludes Book 1
(1975 recital)
Manuel de Falla
Pantomime is a hauntingly beautiful melody from the ballet El amor brujo ("Love, the magician") by Manuel de Falla.
Thaddeus Kozuch performed the music of several leading Spanish and Latin American composers. This brief piano work of Manuel de Falla was a particular favorite.
This performance is from Thaddeus Kozuch's 1974 DePaul University Faculty Recital.
Falla El amor brujo "Pantomime"
Alberto Ginastera
VIDEO: Ginastera Sonata 1 Opus 22 (1952)
Thaddeus Kozuch was in his home studio on March 26, 1986 for this video recording of Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera's Sonata number 1.
Kozuch championed the work ever since its first publication in 1952. Sometimes performances were taken at a faster clip, however here the music is given in a deliberate and expansive manner.
Powerful music is presented quite powerfully.
The movements are:
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Allegro marcato ...................... at time 0:08
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Presto misterioso .................. at time 4:25
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Adagio molto appassionato ... at time 7:14
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Ruvido ed ostinato .................. at time 11:40
Alberto Ginastera
VIDEO: Ruvido ed ostinato ("Rough and obstinate")
last movement from Ginastera Sonata 1 Opus 22 (1952)
Ruvido ed ostinato ("Rough and obstinate") is the title of the last movement of composer Alberto Ginastera's piano sonata #1 (1952). The movement echoes the 6/8 rhythms (123-123, 12-12-12 hemiola) of an Argentine gaucho (cowboy) malambo dance.
Kozuch championed the sonata in recitals ever since its first publication.
Thaddeus Kozuch gave his final public recital on Friday October 3, 1986 at the St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids Michigan, with an exciting performance of the complete Ginastera sonata, ending with this 4th movement.
Morton Gould
VIDEO: Gould "Pavanne" for 4 hands ; Thaddeus and Jacqueline Kozuch pianists - April 1, 1989 home studio
This charming piece by Morton Gould was video taped on Saturday April 1, 1989 in Thaddeus' and wife Jacqueline's home studio for a small group of friends.
The Gould Pavanne is actually the second movement of his American Symphonette No. 2, a symphonic suite written with a jazz tinge.
YouTube listener Edith comments: "The couple, who are pianists, are in great harmony, performing this wonderful piano piece in a four-hand performance, with all my appreciation and respect. Thank you very much."
Franz Joseph Haydn
This performance was recorded at Thaddeus Kozuch's DePaul University Faculty Recital in Kimball Hall (renamed DePaul Center Theater) located in Downtown Chicago on Friday evening March 29, 1974.
Kimball Hall was a medium sized concert hall with acoustically fine characteristics. This was one of Thaddeus Kozuch's many Kimball Hall performances given over the years. DePaul's Music School occupied the 5th floor of the Kimball building before moving to the Lincoln Park campus in 1977.
Images of the Kimball Building at 25 E Jackson Boulevard are shown in this video.
Haydn
Sonata #47
Hob. XVI/32
Haydn and Scarlatti sonatas often were included in Thaddeus Kozuch's recital performances. This Haydn B minor sonata #47 presents a good example of his subtle musicality and delicate keyboard articulation.
Franz Joseph Haydn
This keyboard sonata is scored for harpsichord or fortepiano, leaving the choice to the performer.
This performance is from the 1978 DePaul University Faculty Recital.
Haydn Sonata
Hob. XVI/33
This is one example of the few times that Haydn connects movements in his sonatas (2nd to 3rd).
![1970's Thaddeus Kozuch #1 [1x1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c9805a_5371fb91ea5c403cbc696df2cb79f65b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_251,h_250,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/1970's%20Thaddeus%20Kozuch%20%231%20%5B1x1%5D.jpg)
Thaddeus Kozuch's music
Thaddeus Kozuch Diversion #2
Thaddeus Kozuch was primarily known as a concert pianist and professor, however he also composed music for piano, flute, violin, cello, and voice.
Kozuch's quirky "Diversion #2" for two pianos was video taped on Saturday April 1, 1989 in Thaddeus' and wife Jacqueline's home studio in front of a small group of friends. The old video tape images and audio sound are a little rough, but this is the only known recording of this jazzy and charming little piece.
Unfortunately, the piano music parts have never been found, and the date of composition is unknown.
(perhaps someday AI might help recreate the musical score!)
Thaddeus Kozuch Eight Dances
Thaddeus Kozuch wrote compositions for flute, violin, cello, voice, and of course, piano.
When Kozuch traveled to Europe for multi-country concert tours, while in Paris in 1960 he was asked by Radio-Television France to record a collection of piano works, including his own Eight Dances. In this playlist, Kozuch's Dances are separated into individual tracks.
A word of thanks for help in discovering and obtaining the RTF recordings from pianist-friend Joseph Stefanits ... Joe and I met in front of our Chicago home one day when he noticed my father's music CD and we learned of our common appreciation of great piano music (Joseph, who also is a fine pianist and musician, has his music at youtube.com/@josephstef).
Here is a link to the "Concert Miniature" 78rpm 1947 disc recordings. The album includes music of Thaddeus Kozuch and works by others.
Here is a link to the 1960 Radio-TV France recordings. The album includes these dances composed by Kozuch and works by others.
![1950's Thaddeus Kozuch and music [1x1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c9805a_a09e2bdcb4a54636a1785de96d745b3c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_251,h_250,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/1950's%20Thaddeus%20Kozuch%20and%20music%20%5B1x1%5D.jpg)
Thaddeus Kozuch other compositions
Here are several other works composed by Thaddeus Kozuch. Included are two of his Improvisations from a 1947 studio disc and two 1979 recital encore performances: the first Bagatelle #1 from 1946 and the Mazurka in Eâ™ from 1949.
The Bagatelle #1 was also Dance #3 of the Kozuch Eight Dances.
The Mazurka in Eâ™ was also Dance #7 of the Kozuch Eight Dances.
Kozuch other compositions
Thaddeus Kozuch Poem
Mr. Kozuch originally composed the Poem for Violin as a gift to his wife Jacqueline in the 1930's. Later he reworked the music for flute and piano in the 1980's.
Poem (1980's version) for flute with piano is performed in this 2021 video by his daughter Ann (Kozuch) Fairbanks with pianist Daryl Robinson. Ann provides a brief introduction to the music recorded in Houston's Christ Church Cathedral.
Here is a link to the "Concert Miniature" 78rpm 1947 disc recordings. The album includes piano music composed by Kozuch.
Here is a link to the 1960 Radio-TV France recordings. The collection also includes piano music composed by Kozuch.
Ernesto Lecuona
Gitanerias is a whirlwind little work by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona (composer of the famous Malagueña).
Thaddeus Kozuch often played the music of Spanish and Latin American composers. This work echoes authentic gypsy-like flamenco music of Cuba.
Kozuch performed his last formal piano recital on Friday evening October 3rd, 1986 at the St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids Michigan when 73 years old.
Here he announces the Gitanerias and gives an example of clear articulation and brilliant finger technique, making this a fitting encore to the pianist's remarkable performance career.
Gitanerias (1928)
![Franz_Liszt_1846 [BORDER].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c9805a_423faec19be74196814f67ec481a10dd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_280,h_280,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_avif,quality_auto/Franz_Liszt_1846%20%5BBORDER%5D.jpg)
Franz Liszt
1963 RECORDINGs DISCOVERED
AUDIO NOTE: We discovered a rare 1963 tape of music recorded in Thaddeus Kozuch's first home studio on Kedvale Avenue in Chicago. Made by a family friend, the original audio was from a poor quality reel-to-reel tape machine. These recordings required extensive noise reduction, equalization, and pitch corrections to properly match the true pitch of the piano. Even following these many improvements, THE ETUDE IS VERY DISTORTED. The improved audio quality may still sound harsh and unacceptable to non-historians of piano technique.
The challenging Liszt Etudes are intended not only for the acquisition of a better technique, but also for concert performance. They require exceptional virtuosity, displayed here by Thaddeus Kozuch.
Etude #2
La Leggierezza
( "lightness" )
Franz Liszt
1963 RECORDINGs DISCOVERED
AUDIO NOTE: We discovered a rare 1963 tape of music recorded in Thaddeus Kozuch's first home studio on Kedvale Avenue in Chicago. Made by a family friend, the original audio was from a poor quality reel-to-reel tape machine. These recordings required extensive noise reduction, equalization, and pitch corrections to properly match the true pitch of the piano. Even following these many improvements, LES FUNERAILLES IS VERY DISTORTED. The improved audio quality may still sound harsh and unacceptable to non-historians of piano technique.
Harmonies poétiques et religieuses (Poetic and Religious Harmonies) S.173 is a cycle of 10 piano pieces by Franz Liszt. Funérailles is the 7th and one of the most famous pieces in the collection. It was an elegy written in October 1849 in response to the crushing of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Liszt piano music often requires exceptional virtuosity, as is displayed here by Thaddeus Kozuch.
Les Funerailles
( "Funeral" )