Josef Hofmann

thumb|upright|Josef Hofman Josef Casimir Hofmann (originally Józef Kazimierz Hofmann; January 20, 1876 – February 16, 1957) was a Polish-American virtuoso pianist, composer, music teacher, and inventor. Quotes about Hofmann His playing is stunning, with absolutely no smudging. Sviatoslav Richter, in Notebooks and Conversations, on Hofmann's playing of Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op.31 No.3, Chopin's nocturne and waltz, and two paraphrases of Chants polonais His style on it was one of the phenomena of twentieth-century pianism. Above all he had tone: a magical tone, never hard even at moments of greatest stress; a shimmering, tinted, pellucid tone. His playing had a degree of spontaneity, of "lift," of dash, daring and subtle rhythm, that was unparalleled. Perhaps only his close friend Rachmaninoff was titan enough to stand by his side as an equal. But even Rachmaninoff never had Hofmann's poetry, color and vitality. Nobody so made the piano sing.When he played, there was the feeling of a tremendous and original musical personality. His rubato was carefully measured, yet it flowed freely and naturally. His playing always had breathing space, and his basses exceptional clarity. (Hofmann used to despise what he scornfully called "right-hand pianists.") Never did the playing sag, never were there dead spots, never did the tensile quality slacken. A strong classic element was represented in the purity of his pianistic approach. And his interpretations, romantic but not exaggerated, had a measure of classicism. Harold Schonberg, The Great Pianists (1987) External links Josef Hofmann | the pianist, composer, teacher and inventor A site In Memoriam of Josef Hofmann, comprehensive information on releases, compositions, inventions and discography. Category:Pianists from Poland Category:Pianists from the United States Category:Composers from Poland Category:Composers from the United States Category:Educators from Poland Category:Educators from the United States Category:Inventors Category:1876 births Category:1957 deaths Category:People from Kraków