Album insights
Born on January 6, 1850, in Samter near the Polish city of Poznan, then part of East Prussia, Franz Xaver Scharwenka displayed early musical talent like his brother Philipp (1847–1917). Encouraged by their father, they both received music lessons.
In 1865, the family moved to Berlin, where the brothers enrolled in Theodor Kullak's New Academy of Music. Making strides, Xaver studied piano under Kullak himself, a pupil of Czerny, and composition under Richard Wuerst. In 1868, Kullak employed him as a teacher, leading to his debut as a pianist at the Berlin Singakademie the following year.
Scharwenka was renowned for his interpretive skills, blending brilliance, clarity, and power in his performances. In 1869, his first compositions were published by the prestigious Breitkopf & Härtel German publishing house, including a piano trio and a violin sonata, along with the widely successful Polnische Tänze, Op. 3.
After military service in 1874, Scharwenka embarked on a successful career as a touring virtuoso. By 1877, he completed his first piano concerto, married Zenaide Gousseff, and performed in London's Crystal Palace. In 1881, he shifted towards teaching and opened his own conservatory in Berlin, dedicating less time to composition over the years.
Travelling to America in 1890, Scharwenka established himself as a composer and founded a branch of his conservatory in New York in 1891. Despite summers back in Germany, he resided in the USA for seven years before returning to Berlin in 1898. Engaged in teaching and composing pedagogical works, he passed away in Berlin on December 8, 1924.
Scharwenka's compositions primarily focused on piano, showcasing his profound understanding of the instrument. Influenced by his Polish upbringing and training in Berlin, his works reflected Schumann's musical influence. Establishing a distinct style, early pieces like the Polnische Tänze Op. 3 and Polonaises were notable for their originality.
While the initial Polonaise reflected salon music norms of the 19th century, the subsequent one displayed Scharwenka's unrestrained romanticism. Beyond his Polish-inspired works, Scharwenka exhibited cosmopolitan musical views. Pieces like Impromptu Op. 17 revealed a Schumann inclination.
With notable works like the Valse-Caprice Op. 31 and the later piece "Eglantine" Op. 84, Scharwenka's compositions exemplified quality and charm, showcasing his virtuosic style. His early ventures into larger compositions with the Violin Sonata Op. 2 and the First Piano Sonata in 1871 demonstrated his ambitious musical spirit.
Providing detailed analyses for students, Scharwenka's compositions aimed to instruct while captivating listeners with their virtuosity and originality.