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Domenico Scarlatti

Thaddeus Kozuch's recitals were known for their variety, and often included a collection of Domenico Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas.  These recordings include a few duplicates to allow comparison between Kozuch's historic 1947 studio 78 rpm discs with later recordings.

Robert Schumann

The 1968 Kozuch performance of Schumann's Fantasy Opus 17, published and dedicated to Franz Liszt in 1839.  It is generally described as one of Schumann's greatest works for solo piano, and is one of the central works of the early Romantic period.

Schumann Fantasy Opus 17

The movements are:

1. Passionate, as a legend
2. Moderate, quite energetic 
3. Adagio, consistently quiet

Bedřich Smetana

A charming dance that requires great finger dexterity.

Here is a link to the "Concert Miniature" 78rpm disc recordings from 1947.  This same Smetana Polka and Dance is a selection in that album.

Karol Szymanowski

Szymanowski believed that the piano mazurka form was not an 'historic' concept forever tied with Chopin (and subject to mere imitations).  Rather, it was a living and dynamic thing that developed just as well as other music forms.

Here are three of Szymanowski's Mazurkas from Opus 50 (1926 to 1931).

Thaddeus Kozuch recorded these in 1986 at a Moraine Valley Community College recital.

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Mazurkas
performed
1986

Here again are the #1 and #2 of Szymanowski's Mazurkas from Opus 50 (1926 to 1931).

Thaddeus Kozuch recorded these in 1976 at his DePaul University Faculty Recital.

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Mazurkas
performed
1976

Here is Szymanowski's Tantris le Bouffon from Masques Opus 34 No. 2 (1915-16).  

 

Thaddeus Kozuch recorded this in 1963 in his studio.

The recently discovered recording was made by a friend of the family.

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The audio tape required extensive audio editing including noise reduction, equalization changes, and a 4% pitch correction to the AUDIO.  Under these circumstances, we are happy to have this rare Kozuch recording.

Tantris
le Bouffon
1963

Henryk Wieniawski

 The Kujawiak in A minor is a Polish dance written in 1853.

Kujawiak
1980

Russell Wood

Russell A. Wood was a Chicago composer, voice teacher, pianist and a close friend of Thaddeus Kozuch.  Wood's Sonata was written for, and given its first performance by Mr. Kozuch.

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Two Kozuch performances of the Wood Sonata may be heard on this website, this one from a 1947 studio disc, and another from a 1960 French Radio-TV broadcast.

Here is a link to the 1960 Radio-TV France recordings. The collection includes this Russell Wood Sonata.

Before this encore, Mr. Kozuch announced "A little Waltz by a friend of mine, Russell Wood".

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This is a little Waltz by Russell Wood that was played as an encore at Thaddeus Kozuch's final DePaul University faculty concert in 1979.

After the music, if you listen carefully, Mr. Kozuch can be heard saying "Isn't that pretty?"

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