Friedman, Ignaz (Ignacy) - Pianophilia (2024)

Thankfully this was not as onerous as I had first thought, since a fair number of works by Friedman are available through IMSLP in complete and clean copies, and some were kindly posted previously by Alfor. What I have tried to do is fill some of those gaps.

Alfred, I hope you do not mind, but have re-posted your scores in case some people missed them the first time around.

For me this completes my project on the three titans of Polish pianists / composers: Grünfeld, Hofmann and now Friedman. As with the previous two postings, there are still many gaps in Friedman’s works list…………hopefully one day we shall be able to throw some light on those gaps in our knowledge.

Enjoy !

Malcolm

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Ignaz Friedman (also spelled Ignace or Ignacy - his full name was Solomon Isaac Freudman). Born 1882 in Podgorze near Krakow: died 1948 in Sydney, Australia. Polish pianist and composer – considered by many colleagues as one of the supreme pianists of the period.

Friedman studied with Riemann in Leipzig and Leschetizky in Vienna, plus attended masterclasses by Busoni. Friedman lived in Berlin until 1914 and settled in Copenhagen in 1920.

His official début in Vienna in 1904 featured a program of three piano concertos, rivalling the similar programs of established titans like Busoni and Godowsky and he remained one of the world’s top pianists throughout his career. His style was quiet and effortless, imbued with a sense of rhythm and colour, grounded in a sovereign technique; he was a noted interpreter of Chopin in particular. Despite having given 2,800 concerts during his career, he sometimes received lukewarm reviews in America in later years, as younger critics were becoming accustomed to modernist playing which outstripped romantic interpretations. Rachmaninov admired Friedman's playing but commented that he "played too much to the gallery".

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Friedman was in Europe, but managed to escape when a concert tour in Australia was offered at the last moment. He settled in Sydney and remained there until his death in 1948 (ironically on Australia Day). His last concert was in Sydney in July 1943 after which, neuritis in his left hand forced him to retire from the concert platform.

He composed more than 90 works, mainly for the piano, as well as pieces for cello and a piano quintet, plus many songs. Sadly his compositions have not found a niche in the standard repertory. He also made arrangements of many works, ranging across the whole spectrum of Baroque, Classical and Romantic music. He edited an almost complete edition of the piano works of Chopin and also produced editions of Schumann and Liszt.

Friedman also taught several important pianists, including Gurt, Tiegerman and Hungerford.
The Sydney Conservatoire award an annual Ignaz Freidman Prize for composition.

Friedman - Works List
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Op 1 Three Songs

Op 2 Krakowiak – Song No. 1

Op 3 Krakowiak – Song No. 2

Op 4 Three Songs

Op 5 Three Songs [in German]

Op 6?

Op 7?

Op 8 Four Miniatures – Piano (Piwarski) from Alfor
1. Monologue 2. Arlequin 3. Canzonetta 4. Reverie Interrompu

Op 9 Trois Pensée Lyriques - Piano (Piwarski)
1. A la Cornemuse 2. Chant d’Amour 3. Desillusion

Op 10 Causeries, Cinq Morceaux - Piano (Piwarski)
1. Intermezzo 2. Danse fantastique 3. Capricietto 4. Chanson Triste 5. Elle Danse

Op 11 ?

Op 12 Huit Petite Valses – Piano (Piwarski)

Op 13 Cinq Morceaux – Piano (Piwarski) from Alfor
1. Improvisation 2. Melodie Elegiaque 3. Prelude 4. Marche miniature 5. Arabesque

Op 14 Four Novellettes - Piano

Op 15 Four Mazurkas – Piano from Alfor

Op 16 ?

Op 17 Two Songs (Piwarski)

Op 18 Cinq Aquarelles – Piano (Piwarski)
1. Petit Berceuse 2. Minuetto 3. Poco Ostinato 4. Polka peu dansante 5. Mazurka

Op 19 Album on Piano Technique & Problems (Piwarski)

Op 20 Cinq Bagatelles [Cinq Bouteilles] - Piano (Piwarski) [No. 3 IMSLP]
1. Prelude 2. Valse Noble 3. Humoresque 4. Noel 5. Pastorale

Op 21?

Op 22 a Six Estampes - Piano (UE) [No. 4 IMSLP]
1. Impatience 2. Serenade du Pierrot 3. Discours Intime 4. Marquis et Marquise 5. A La Watteau 6. Badinage

Op 22 b Scenes Enfantines - Piano (Idzikowski)
1. Petit Chanson 2. Soldats de Bois 3. Pres de l’Eglise 4. En Valsant 5. Le Paysan Joyeuse 6. Au lac 7. Grand’maman Reve

Op 23 Two Songs

Op 24 Variations - Piano (Piwarski)

Op 25 Three Songs

Op 26 Trois Morceaux – Piano (Piwarski)

Op 27 Vier Klavierstücke (Rahter) [note alternate copies of Nos 1, 3 & 4 from Alfor]
1. Prolog 2. Geständnis 3. Mazurka 4. Im Volkston

Op 28 Three Transcriptions after Moniusko - Piano [No. 1 @ IMSLP]
1. Wiosna 2. Piesn Wieczorna 3. Dumka

Op 29 Quatre Preludes – Piano (Rahter) from Alfor

Op 30 Theme varié – Piano (Piwarski)

Op 31 Trois Intermezzi - Piano (Piwarski)

Op 32 Romance for Violin [or Cello] & Piano (Piwarski)

Op 33 Trois Morceaux - Piano (UE) + IMSLP and posting from Alfor
1. Etude 2. Mazurka 3. Tabatiere a Musique

Op 34 a Three Songs (Kryzanowski)

Op 34 bTwo Transcriptions – Piano
1. Backer-Grødahl: Die Linde + IMSLP
2. Elling: Ich will fort!

Op 35 ?

Op 36 ?

Op 37 ?

Op 38 a Miniaturen, Eighteen Pieces for Children - Piano [1-12 Piwarski, 13-18 Norsk Musikkforlag]

Op 38 b Cinq Impressions - Piano (Piwarski)
1. Elan 2. C’était autrfois… 3. Pres d’Amalfi 4. A la Mazourka 5. Nocturne

Op 39 Trois Morceaux – Piano (Piwarski)
1. Melodie 2. Cracovienne 3. Caprice

Op 40 ?

Op 41 Five Songs (Piwarski)

Op 42 ?

Op 43 ?

Op 44 Passacaglia in F minor - Piano (UE)

Op 45 Three Fantasie Pieces - Piano (UE)
1. Einsamkeit 2. Tanz 3. Intermezzo

Op 46 ?

Op 47 a Four Etudes - Piano (UE) + IMSLP

Op 47 b Studies on a Theme of Paganini - Piano (UE) + IMSLP

Op 48 Four Preludes - Piano (UE) + IMSLP

Op 49 Zwei Mazurkas - Piano (UE)

Op 50 Two Pieces for Cello & Piano (UE)

Op 51 Five Waltzes – Piano / 4 hands (UE) + IMSLP

Op 52 ?

Op 53 Four Polish Lyrical Pieces, Book 1 - Piano (UE) [No. 1 IMSLP] complete from Alfor
1. Herbst 2. Schlummerlied 3. Bauerntanz 4. Wind

Op 54 ?

Op 55 Four Songs (Piwarski)

Op 56 ?

Op 57 ?

Op 58 ?

Op 59 Lyrical Episodes – Piano [No. 4 IMSLP] - alas I only have Nos. 1 & 6 to add
1. Chaconne in C# minor 2. Mazurka 3. Intermezzo 4. En Valsant 5. La Fileuse
6. Aubade in Gb major [“An meine Frau”] 7. Sur l’Eau 8. Jonglerie 9. Epilogue

Op 60 Five Polish Lyrical Pieces, Book 2 - Piano (UE) from Alfor
1. Dumka in C# minor 2. Hymn in C minor 3. Im Mai 4. Valsette 5. Valse refrain in Ab major

Op 61 Four Preludes - Piano (UE) + IMSLP

Op 62 ?

Op 63 Sixteen Etudes – Piano + IMSLP

Op 64 ?

Op 65 ?

Op 66 Ballade - Piano (UE) + IMSLP

Op 67 ?

Op 68 ?

Op 69 ?

Op 70 Suite for Two Pianos (Hansen 1917)
1. Tema con variation 2. Chorale 3. Finale

Op 71 Strophes – Piano + IMSLP

Op 72 Polish Lyrical Pieces, Book 3 – Piano (UE) + IMSLP and copy below from Alfor which includes Op 53 & 60 as well]
1. Weinachtlied 2. Von Lieb’ und Lied 3. In der Dorfschenke 4. Soldatenmarsch
5. Tandelei

Op 73 ?

Op 74 ?

Op 75 ?

Op 76 Vignettes. Eight Little Pieces – Piano (Hansen) from Alfor

Op 77 Deux Morceaux – Piano (Hansen)
1. Barcarolle 2. Valse Tendre

Op 78 ?

Op 79 Stimmungen [Books I & II]. Nine Pieces – Piano (UE) + IMSLP

Op 80 Eight Preludes – Piano (Hansen) + IMSLP

Op 81 Cinq Morceaux – Piano (UE) [No. 1 missing]
1. Serenade 2. Masque Galante 3. Arlequinade 4. Mirage 5. Ecossaise

Op 82 Sonatina in C major - Piano (UE) [designated as No. 1 but no other work linked to this opus number]

Op 83 ?

Op 84 ?

Op 85 Six Mazurkas – Piano (UE) + IMSLP

Op 86 ?

Op 87 ?

Op 88 ?

Op 89 ?

Op 90 Quatre Morceaux – Piano (manuscript)
1. Pliante 2. Krakowiak 3. En Revant 4. Valse Gaie

Op 91 ?

Op 92 Polonaise – Piano (manuscript)

Op 93 Trois Morceaux – Piano

Op 94 ?

Op 95 ?

Op 96 Trois Morceaux
1. Dance & Double 2. A La Mazourka 3. Prelude
[manuscipt includes two additional pieces Saltimbanque & Krakowiak and renames the first three pieces, in different order as Plainte [a la Mazurka], Sarabande [& double] & Esquisse]

Op 97 Transcription of the Scherzo from Mendelssohn’s Op 44 String Quartet No. 3 + IMSLP

Op 98 ?

Op 99 Trois Morceaux [same as Op 96 ?]
1. Sarabande & Double 2. Air Plaintif 3. Esquisse

Op 100 Cadenza to Beethoven’s Piano Concertos

Works Without Opus:

Les Révérences arr. by L Auer for Two Violins, Cello & Bass

Les Révérences arr. by L Auer for Violin & Piano (Hansen)

Bei den Marionetten – 12 Pieces (UE)

Exercises from lberto Jonas’ book on piano techique + IMSLP

Exercises towards Higher Piano Technique

Four Songs (Kryzanowski)
1. Preludyum 2. O przyjdz 3. Fragment from “Kazimierza Wielkiego” 4. Wrajskim Dziwnymsnie

Humoresque (Norsk Musikkforlag)

Menuet in A (Piwarski)

Four Polish Songs translated to Danish (Hansen)
1. Forgaeves 2. Kolde Blaest, vel truer du 3. Tungsindig 4. Folkevise

Masques + IMSLP
1. Ariette 2. Menuet 'Les Reverences' 3. Masovienne 4. Orientale 5. Pierrette

Piano Quintet (Hansen) + IMSLP

Three Songs (Gubrynowicz & Smith)
1. Po rosie 2. Zawod 3. Preludyum

Arrangements & Transcriptions [the vast majority of these are available on IMSLP, a few of the gaps I have posted below]:

Anon - Minuet “The Judgement of Paris” (Bote & Bock)

Bach JS
Boureé – Violin Partita No. 2
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 – 1st movement
Chorale Prelude from Cantata 8: Sheep May Safely Graze
Chorale Prelude from Cantata 68: My Heart Ever Faithful
Chorale Prelude: Nun komm des Heiden Heiland
Chorale Prelude from Cantata 162: Sleepers Awake
Gavotte – 6th Violin Sonata
Siciliano – Flute Sonata No. 2
Toccata & Fugue in D minor

Beethoven- Ecossaises (UE)

Boccherini - Pastorale from Symphony in C minor

Brahms
Waltz No. 15 with No. 2 as middle section
Waltz Op 39 No. 15

Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 1 in F minor – as Piano solo

Couperin
La tendre fanchon (UE)
La Linote éffarouchée

Musette de Taverni

Dalayrac - Romance from the opera “La Pazza per Amore” (UE)

Dall’Abaco - Courante – Study from the Sonata No. 10 Op 4

Dandrieu
Le Caquet (UE)
Les Fifres (UE)

Dornel - Tambourin

Dussek - Menuett

Field J - Nocturne in Bb major (UE)

Franck - Prelude, Fugue & Variation Op 18 No. 2 (Allan Publ.)

Gärtner - Six Viennese Dances (UE)

Gluck
Gavotte from “Don Juan”
Ballet – Flute solo from “Orpheus” (Allan Publ.)
Dance of Blessed Spirits from “Orpheus”
Gavotte from Iphigenie en Aulide

Grazioli - Adagio (UE)

Handel
Gigue from Suite No. 8
Gigue from Suite No. 10

Henselt - Petite Valse [Op 28 No. 1]

Hummel - Rondo Favori Op 11

Kirnberger - Allegro

Lange-Muller - Firenze

Lanner - Die Schönbrunner

Mahler - Tempo di Menuetto from 3rd Symphony (UE)

Marias - Rigaudon en Rondeau

Mendelssohn - Frühlingslied (Hansen)

Mozart
Romance from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Larghetto
Menuetto aus der Diverimento für Streichquartett & Drie Hörner

Paganini - Piano accompaniment to Caprices Nos. 1, 9 & 19 (UE)

Palmgren - Fer Fluss [from Piano Concerto No. 2] (Hansen)

Rameau
Musette (UE)
Le rappel des oiseaux (UE)

Scarlatti
Pastorale (UE)
Gigue (UE)

Schubert
Rondo in A major – Piano / 4 hands
Alt-Wien I – Dances (UE)
Alt-Wien II – Waltzes (UE)

Shield - Old English Minuet (UE)

Stamitz - Prestissimo from Symphony in G major

Strauss
O Schöner Mai
Frühlingsstimmen (UE)
Schatzwalzer from “The Gypsy Baron”

Alfor menioned that I had missed some of his Friedman postings which I have duly added: Op 8, Op 27, Op 29, Op 55, Op 60 & Op 72. Many thanks Alfred for these additions.

Malcolm

Dear Malcom (and Alfor),

Thank you for this very intriguing selection! I've found the few Friedman pieces I've heard recordings of quite attractive and look forward to examining these. How wonderful that there are also plenty of smaller pieces that even a rank amateur such as myself can deal with.

All the Best,
Curtis