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Updated: May 7, 2025
What may be considered the most difficult branch of pianoforte study? What is the law of artistic progress? How must real musical understanding be achieved? What is the vital spark in piano playing? Can one be overexact in playing? What is the effect of too many mechanical rules? Alfred Reisenauer was born at Königsberg, Germany, Nov. 1st, 1863.
In the meanwhile, Reisenauer had gone to another room and, after listening patiently, returned, imitating the walk, facial expression and the peculiar guttural snort characteristic of Liszt in his later years. Then followed a long "kindly sermon" upon the emotional possibilities of the composition.
Musicians are generally understood to have an affectionate regard for their instruments, almost paternal. Not so with Reisenauer. He even goes so far as to make this statement: "I have aways been drawn to the piano by a peculiar charm I have never been able to explain to myself. I feel that I must play, play, play, play, play. It has become a second nature to me.
For those years I could not have had a better teacher. Lucky is the child, who like Gounod, Reisenauer and others, has had the invaluable instruction that a patient, self-sacrificing mother can give. The mother is the most unselfish of all teachers, and is painstaking to a fault. She insisted upon slow systematic regular practice.
Give Liszt's conception of how Chopin developed one of his Valses. Have the possibilities of the art of musical composition been exhausted? Are other great schools of pianoforte playing likely to arise? What was Reisenauer's opinion of the works of MacDowell? What may be said of musical taste in America when Reisenauer was touring this country.
As to American composers, Reisenauer is so thoroughly and enthusiastically won over by MacDowell that he has not given the other composers sufficient attention to warrant a critical opinion. I found upon questioning that he had made a genuinely sincere effort to find new material in America, but he said that outside of MacDowell, he found nothing but indifferently good salon-music.
In another sense he was the greatest of teachers. Sit at the piano and I will indicate the general plan pursued by Liszt at a lesson. Reisenauer is a remarkable and witty mimic of people he desires to describe. The present writer sat at the piano and played at some length through several short compositions, eventually coming to the inevitable "Chopin Valse, Op. 69, No. 1, in A flat major."
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