Paul Kochanski

Paweł Kochański (14 September 1887 – 12 January 1934), also called Paul Kochanski, was a Polish violinist, composer and arranger. [http://www.usc.edu/dept/polish_music/PMJ/issue/1.1.98/kochanski_part1.html Kochański's Collaborative Work from the Polish Music Journal] ]

Training and early career

Born Paweł Kochański in Orel, Russia, he studied violin first with his father and then at age 7 in Odessa with Emil Młynarski, whose teacher had been Leopold Auer. In 1898 Młynarski went to Warsaw, and when, three years later in 1901, he founded the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, he summoned Kochański, then aged 14, to be Concertmaster. He also took charge of Kochański's upbringing and education, treating him like a son, and stating that he believed Paweł would become a world-class soloist. [H. Sachs, "Arthur Rubinstein - A Life" (Phoenix paperbacks, London 1997, 64).] In 1903, with sponsorship from leading Warsaw families arranged by Młynarski, Kochański went to Brussels to study with César Thomson at the Brussels Conservatoire. There, after four months, he received the "Premier prix avec la plus grande distinction" (First prize, with the greatest distinction). [A. Eaglefield-Hull, "A Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians" (Dent, London 1924).]

It was at this point, as he was beginning his itinerant virtuoso career, that he met Artur Rubinstein, through the invitation of Juliusz Wertheim. [Sachs, ibid.] They immediately realised their shared musical sympathies, but the friendship, rich with youthful energy, really took off in 1907 with their concerts for the Warsaw Philharmonic, including duo performances of the "Kreutzer sonata" and Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio with the 'cellist J. Sabelik. [Sachs 1997, 103.] In 1908, with Jozef Jaroszyński (a patron of Kochański's), they made a triumphant tour of European capitals, including Berlin, Paris, London and Karlsbad,clarifyme and in 1908-9 Kochański and Rubinstein performed the Franck violin sonata, the Kreutzer again, and a Brahms trio (with Eli Kochański, 'cellist, Paul's gifted brother) for the Warsaw Philharmonic.

Pre-War career

From 1909 to 1911 Kochański taught at the Warsaw Conservatory as professor of violin. In 1909 he and Rubinstein gave the first performance of Karol Szymanowski's Sonata in D minor. Their participation, with their friend Szymanowski, in the movement known as Young Poland, helped to promote more progressive musical attitudes in Warsaw. In 1911, Kochanski married Zosia Kohn (who had previously held a hopeless passion for Juliusz Wertheim). His father-in-law, a lawyer, bought him a Stradivarius violin for his wedding present. Szymanowski dedicated his Violin Concerto No. 1 in 1916 to Kochański, who contributed the cadenza.

In 1913-1914 in London, Rubinstein introduced Kochański to the music-room of Paul and Muriel Draper, to which they also introduced Szymanowski, and where Paul met Igor Stravinsky. In this circle they were often with Pau Casals, Jacques Thibaud, Lionel Tertis, Pierre Monteux and others. Stravinsky dedicated a transcription for violin and piano of three pieces from "The Firebird" to Kochanski. Kochanski participated in two of Rubinstein's recitals at the Bechstein Hall in 1914, one of which was devoted entirely to contemporary music. [Sachs 1997, 133, 140, 142.] In 1916 he succeeded Leopold Auer, teaching at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory until 1918. He moved on to teach at the Kiev Conservatory from 1919 to 1920.

London and New York, 1920-1934

In 1920 he lived briefly in London, and gave a joint recital with Rubinstein at the Wigmore Hall. In London they were reunited with Szymanowski, with whom Paul and Zosia also spent time in Brighton. Paul and Karol gave a joint recital at the Wigmore Hall in January 1921, [Sachs 1997, 197.] and a few weeks later the four set off for New York City. They were awaited by Paul Draper and George Engels (Paul's American manager) and were rapidly received into musical circles, Paul and Arthur giving the world premiere of Ernest Bloch's "First Sonata for violin and piano" soon afterwards. Kochanski made a sensational debut in the Brahms Violin Concerto at the Carnegie Hall, and was immediately in demand. The four returned to England, but went back to New York in autumn 1921. In April 1922 Paul was playing in Buenos Aires. [Sachs, ibid., 200-212.]

From this point Kochański's career was based in New York. He taught at The Juilliard School from 1924 until his death from cancer at age 47 in 1934, heading the violin faculty. In 1933, when he was already dying, he helped Szymanowski to complete his Second Violin Concerto and gave the premiere: when published (after Paul's death) the score bore a moving dedication to him. A non-religious ceremony was held at the school, attended by 1500 people: his pall-bearers included Arturo Toscanini, Frank Damrosch, Walter Damrosch, Jascha Heifetz, Vladimir Horowitz, Fritz Kreisler, Serge Koussevitzky, Leopold Stokowski and Efrem Zimbalist. [Sachs, ibid., 250.]

According to Rubinstein, who loved him as his dearest friend, Paul liked straightforward people, played cards and sometimes spoke roughly. He could be abrupt, impatient or rude, and could get angry and walk out, slamming doors behind him.

Accolade

Dr. John Erskin, the dean of The Juilliard School, said of him,

"Magnificent his [Kochański's] playing and teaching were, I think he was a bigger man than we had yet realized. His influence and his fame were only beginning. Had he lived, I believed he would have distinguished himself in compositions, to which his attention was turning."

Manuscript Collection

The Music Department of Poland's National Library in Warsaw contains the Paul Kochański Manuscript Collection. The Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage funded the purchase of his written creative work from Sotheby's New York in December 1988 for the Library.

References