An old proverb says :  "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."  One might as well say :  "The proof of a teacher is his pupils."

How rarely has any teacher since Czerny (who was his own master) formed so many celebrated pupils as my old master Leschetizky !  From Essipoff to Paderewski, from Brailowsky to Schnabel and Gabrilowitsch, to name only the most prominent of all.

Through what secret did Leschetizky achieve such remarkable results ?  The answer is :  Leschetizky was an artist and a teacher at the same time.

His musical taste was objectionable ?  It certainly wasn't the taste of our time.     ...

But no pupil is bound to follow his master's personal taste (as if he wasn't allowed to have his own), and Leschetizky's taste, even if it was somewhat one-sided, in no way impaired his abilities as a teacher.  If the method is right, a pianist will certainly be able to adapt it to any new composer, regardless of whether his old master would have liked the composition or not.

Intelligence vs. "Inspiration"

Now, it may be that methodical intelligence and artistic inspiration somehow contradict each other.  It may be that first rate talents themselves do not need methodical teaching—they, so to say, can be thrown into the water and swim.  Or it may be that, at least in most cases, these great talents learned their instrument so early in life—at the same time when they learned to read and write—that they no longer remember what difficulties they had to overcome.  Consequently they have no understanding of a pupil's difficulties.

Whatever the reason is, to find these two qualities, methodical intelligence and artistic inspiration, each of them rare, in one person, is as rare as an eclipse of sun and moon together.

Ideal Method of Piano Teaching

And yet a pupil would want both.  Piano playing should be taught just as methodically, step by step, as, for example, writings.  The child learns first a small number of letters ; each additional letter enables it to write an additional number of words.

Take another example :  nobody wold teach Latin by letting the pupil at his first lesson try to translate a classical author.  .   ...

A methodical teacher should . . . teach the student what can be taught and an artist should inspire him by is own—the artist's—inspired playing. Leschetizky was both, an inspired artist and a methodical teacher ; therein consisted his greatness.  Therefore, his outstanding position in the pianistic world and his well deserved celebrity.  A celebrity which—an almost unique case for a teacher—nearly 30 years after his death, is still living in the memory of the musical world.

 

( Musical Courier, August 1945, page 13. )

Note : http://hjem.get2net.dk/Brofeldt/Appendix_001_Wittgenstein.htm

Selected Bibliographic

Wittgenstein, Paul, "The Legacy of Leschetizky," Musical Courier, CXXXII/3 (August, 1945), 13.
[ Source : Ethel Newcomb, Leschetizky as I Knew Him, 1921 (1967 edition p. 308). ]

( Note : the following has not been organized (WPT)

Title(s) Musical courier (1880) Musical courier Publisher New York : Howard Rockwood, 1880. Paging 1 v. : ill. ; 23-40 cm. Pub. History V. 1, no. 9-40 (Apr. 3-Nov. 5, 1880). Notes Microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mich. : University Microfilms International, 19uu. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mn. Title(s) Musical courier and review of recorded music. Publisher [New York : Musical Courier, 1961- Paging v. : ill. ; 28 cm. Pub. History Vol. 163, no. 3 (Feb. 1961) - v. 163, no. 10 (Sept. 1961). Notes Title from cover. Subject Headings Music Periodicals. Music United States Periodicals. Drama Periodicals. Continues Musical courier (New York, N.Y. : 1883)

Title(s) Musical courier (New York, N.Y. : 1883) Musical courier : a weekly journal devoted to music and the music trades. Publisher New York : [Musical Courier Co. Paging v. : ill. ; 23-40 cm. Frequency Monthly, 1958-1961 Bimonthly, Nov.-Jan. and Mar., and monthly, Feb., Apr.-Oct., 1883-1957 Pub. History [Vol. 5, no. 25 - v. 163, no. 2 (Jan. 1961)]. Notes Description based on: July 1, 1896; title from caption. Absorbed Musical observer, Sept. 26, 1931; review of recorded music, July 1958. Summary Vols. for 1957-61 include an additional (mid-January) no. called Directory issue, 1st-5th ed. The 6th ed. was published as the Dec. 1961 issue. Subject Headings Music Periodicals.

On record :

Author Ravel, Maurice, 1875-1937. Uniform Title [ Concertos, piano, 1 hand, orchestra, D major] Title Concerto in D major for the left hand [sound recording] / Maurice Ravel. Works for the left hand / Bach-Brahms ; Schubert-Liszt ; Max Reger Publisher Los Angeles, Calif. : Orion, p1970. Description 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, stereo. ; 12 in. Note Title from container. Previously issued in late 1950's on Period label. Program notes by Bernard Lebow on container. Contents Concerto in D major for the left hand / Ravel (18:28) --Meeresstille = Calm of the sea / Schubert ; arr. Liszt (2:22) -- Romanze / Max Reger (3:56) -- Chaconne / Bach ; arr. Brahms (14:27) -- Prelude & fugue / Max Reger (6:22).

Author Wittgenstein, Paul. Title Paul Wittgenstein, piano [sound recording] Publisher Los Angeles, Calif. : Orion Records, c1970. Description 1 sound disc : 33 1/3 rpm, stereo ; 12 in. Note Original works and arrangements for one-hand piano. Program notes by Bernard Lebow on container. Contents Concerto in D (for left hand) / Ravel (18:23) -- Meeresstille / Schubert ; arr. Liszt (2:22) -- Romanze / Reger (3:56) -- Chaconne (Fr. Violin partita no. 2 in d) / Bach ; arr. Brahms (14:27) -- Prelude & fugue / Reger (6:22)

Title Paul Wittgenstein plays music for the left hand [sound recording] Publisher [U.S.] : Period Records, [195-?] Description 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm ; 12 in. Note Program notes by B. Lebow on container. Contents Piano concerto in D for the left hand and orchestra, by Ravel.--Chaconne, by Bach (arr. Brahms)--Meerestille, by Schubert (arr. Liszt)--Romance. Prelude and Fugue, by Reger. Subject Piano (1 hand) with orchestra.

Author Walter, Bruno, 1876-1962. Title Bruno Walter in concert [sound recording] Publisher Erba (Como), Italy : Grammofono 2000, p1994 Description 1 sound disc : digital, mono. ; 4 3/4 in Note "New remastering with Cedar sound system"--Container Compact disc Contents Symphony no. 3 in E♭ major, op. 97 / Robert Schumann -- Romeo and Juliet fantasy overture / Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky -- Piano concerto in D major for the left hand / Maurice Ravel

Author Ravel, Maurice, 1875-1937. Uniform Title [ Concertos, piano, 1 hand, orchestra, D major] Title Concerto in D for the left hand [sound recording] / Ravel. La mer ; Prélude à l'apres-midi d'un faune / Debussy. Publisher [Italy] : AS disc, p1989. Description 1 sound disc (48 min.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in. Series Bruno Walter rarities Note Compact disc. Digitally remastered analog recording.

Author Ravel, Maurice, 1875-1937. Uniform Title [ Concertos, piano, 1 hand, orchestra, D major] Title Concerto in D major for the left hand [sound recording] / Maurice Ravel. Works for the left hand / Bach-Brahms ; Schubert-Liszt ; Max Reger Publisher Los Angeles, Calif. : Orion, p1970. Description 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, stereo. ; 12 in. Note Title from container. Previously issued in late 1950's on Period label. Program notes by Bernard Lebow on container. Contents Concerto in D major for the left hand / Ravel (18:28) --Meeresstille = Calm of the sea / Schubert ; arr. Liszt (2:22) -- Romanze / Max Reger (3:56) -- Chaconne / Bach ; arr. Brahms (14:27) -- Prelude & fugue / Max Reger (6:22).

Author Strauss, Richard, 1864-1949. Uniform Title [ Parergon zur Symphonia domestica. Sound recording] Title Parergon to the Sinfonia domestica, op.73 Note Duration: 28 min Program notes by Klaus George Roy on container Contents Parergon to the Sinfonia Domestica : Op. 73, for piano and orchestra / Richard Strauss -- Andante finale de Lucia di Lammermoor pour la main gauche, op. 13 / Leschetizky -- Du bist die Ruh / Schubert ; Liszt ; arr. Paul Wittgenstein -- Second Sonata in E flat major for flute and harpsichord. Sicilienne / J.S. Bach ; arr. Wittgenstein -- Serenade for winds in E flat major, K.V. 375. Adagio / Mozart ; arr. Wittgenstein -- Tristan und Isolde. Isoldens Liebestod : Isolde's love-death / Wagner ; Liszt ; arr. Wittgenstein Subject Piano with orchestra