Hyperion Records

The Deux Pensées musicales, Op 1 were written in Paris in 1888 or 1889, when the composer was in his late teens and completing his studies with Léo Delibes at the Conservatoire National. From Delibes’ correspondence with Paderewski found in the latter’s archives at the Archiwum Akt Nowych in Warsaw, it is known that Delibes sent Stojowski’s compositions to him for his approval and comments. It is safe to presume that these two early works had both Paderewski’s nihil obstat as well as Delibes’ imprimatur before they went to print. Both pieces show the young composer’s gift for creating beautiful melodies accompanied by luscious harmonies.

Mélodie, No 1 of the Pensées, was undoubtedly the composer’s most popular and one of his most irresistible compositions. It has seen no fewer than sixteen editions, including five transcriptions for violin and piano, four for organ, and one for orchestra. This work was a favourite of violinists Mischa Elman and Jascha Heifetz. The organ transcriptions were probably heard less often in church than they were in the cinema as background music for many a romantic moment during silent motion pictures.

In addition to Boris Goldovsky’s 1955 recording of Mélodie on the Allegro Royale label, the composer himself recorded it on an Ampico piano roll under the title Musical Thought. His 1944 New York radio broadcast of the work can also be found on the 1976 LP of Stojowski’s works issued on the International Piano Archives’ Desmar label, along with a tender rendition of the Prélude performed by the composer’s wife, the Peruvian pianist Louisa Moralès-Macedo (1890–1982).

The Deux Pensées musicales were first published by V Durdilly in Paris in 1889 and are dedicated to the wife of Moritz Moszkowski, Henriette Moszkowska (née Chaminade).

from notes by Joseph A Herter © 2004