A few words delivered at the opening ceremony for the 40th anniversary of the Chair of Piano Chamber Music

Prof. Jerzy Marchwiński

A few words delivered at the opening ceremony for the 40^th anniversary of the  Chair of Piano Chamber Music

Dear Guests, Dear Friends,

Let me say just a few words of thanks and gratitude addressed towards those who are here with me and others, who have already gone down in history.

Here I stand now, struggling with the dilemma of how to mention here all the people who shaped my childhood and youth and to whom I owe the joys and sorrows of the drop of eternity which we have shared and which is called human life. I will name just a few of them, asking for forgiveness those whom I had to leave out as mentioning all of them would considerably exceed the time limit of today’s celebration.

First of all, I would like to thank my wonderful Parents who had called me to this most beautiful of worlds, who had watched my first steps on Earth, who had opened before me the magic world of sounds.  The same sounds which had let me momentarily forget about the wretched night of the Nazi occupation. 

Let me thank my teachers who introduced me to the inexhaustible sources of knowledge, wisdom and musical beauty, and shaped my professional foundations: Professors Stefania Borkowska and  Edward Mąkosza  who taught me during my childhood in Częstochowa, and  the awesome Professor Maria Wiłkomirska and  unforgettable Professor  Kiejstut Bacewicz under whom I studied  in Warsaw. 

I recall with great respect the name of Professor  Bogusław Madey who had been the  Rector of the University at the time when I had begun teaching there. His imagination and intellectual horizons helped to turn into reality  my personal concept of the Chair of Piano Chamber Music.  

Rector, prof. Bogusław Madey offered me a position of the manager of the Chair of Chamber Music. I refused, as I did not perceive myself enough competent to resolve problems  of  the chamber performance of wind, strings or singers ensemble. I wouldn’t also  felt enough comfortable being directed in my chamber performances by a violinist, flutist or baritone. That’s why, I confirmed to the Rector my readiness to be a chairman of the chair of piano chamber music, but only for ensembles with piano. Professor immediately understood and accepted my idea and nominate me its chairman. That’s how the Chair of the Piano Chamber Music was born. Thank you, Professor!

I must add some, understood anxieties before the first meeting with the Piano Faculty, when I had to present my idea, especially that members of the Faculty were composed of truly prominent and famous teachers. Fortunately, the Faculty spontaneously and unanimously accepted the idea and with the effective help of prof. Jan Ekier also accepted its name as The Chair of Piano Chamber Music 

I extend heartfelt thanks to the subsequent helmsmen of the University who, with just one exception, offered creative and benevolent support to the Chair throughout its history  with various turbulent or even dramatic moments, and contributed to its current structure and work which has been continuing for many years now. 

I find it appropriate to express my special thanks also to the adversaries of the Chair.  A confrontation of viewpoints sharpened my argumentation. It might be worthwhile to mention that some of these  adversaries  turned into the devoted acolytes. 

Hundredfold thanks are due to outstanding artists Halina Słonicka and Jerzy Artysz, my university peers  and invaluable partners whom I was lucky to meet at the beginning of my performing career.   I am truly grateful to the partner of my life Ewa Podleś and to the pleiad of outstanding Polish and foreign artists with whom the benevolent Fate let me work on stage and in the recording studio.   The musical adventures which we had shared became my credentials for the didactic message which I was offering  to  young artists. 

No words can express my gratitude to all devotees or even enthusiasts whom I managed to infect – as they choose to call it – with the concept of piano chamber music and the idea partnership which, by choice,  forms the foundation for its existence.

 From the very beginning, I felt that it is not my Chair but our Chair. And this idea  would not have flourished without the generous support of all these devoted supporters.  I would like to express deep gratitude to Professors Maja Nosowska and  Katarzyna Jankowska who took over from me the steering wheel of the Chair.  They spared no effort to efficiently navigate the Chair through the    difficulties of the reality.

The unique feature of  the Chair of Piano Chamber Music is the fact that it is a part of the Faculty of Piano, where it actively exists as one of two equal Chairs, the solo and ensemble ones.  I am grateful to the authorities of the University of their openness and broad intellectual horizons which  made it possible for the Chair to exist as an official entity. 

I do not know what future generations will  remember about the concepts handed down to them by the Chair of Piano Chamber music and what they will  turn into reality.  However, I am positive that the idea of artistic equality of solo and team piano  performances  based  on the concept of partnership, will mark  the reality of music performances  for good. 

Finally, I would like to thank all of you, Ladies and Gentlemen, for accepting our invitation to celebrate this anniversary.