This man, he "knew" me much earlier than I knew who he was. As a jury member at competitions where I played as a kid-prodigy, he knew very well who I am. But I had no idea who František Maxián was. When I was 17-18, that was somehow "pretty wild era" of my life. That time, I was totally techno-influenced, metamfetamins-addicted wild youngster who did not care piano at all. It could have been that when I was doing auditions to Prague conservatory, after being rejected from physics & computer programming gymnasium (which was not the best "option" for me.. but my parents did not want to let me go to Prague alone when I was 15 and finished my elementary), I was maybe 2-3 days without a single minute of sleep... don't remember exactly. Memories from this time are "little bit blurry"... Anyway - František, that time the head of the piano department, I remember he was somehow "laughing" at me how "young, wild and stupid" I was. I remember, they (he) asked me a question during the auditions "If I could name a few world-renown pianists"... Well..., I could only say the name of Friedrich Gulda because I remembered the name from my mother's LPs... (and Rudolf Firkušný because some people used to call me like that when I was a kid - "young Firkušný"). I was just a "piano diletant" (at least talking about "knowledge", talent was hopefully there :) ). So... that stupid I was, and still, he accepted me to his class. And exactly in the time when my father has given up his role as my father completely, I (luckily) met this man. František has shown me "how to be a total punk but also a noble gentleman in the same time" (compared to my father who was only the total punk...). After 6 years, after finishing the Prague conservatory, somehow I was a "complete pianist / musician", ready for any challenge which was awaiting me. I did not know this at the time (or wasn't thinking about it)... I had no idea HOW MUCH he taught me during this 6 years (OK.. not to forget all the other great teachers there too - theory, harmony, counterpoint etc etc. I was lucky for the perfect mix of teachers). I had to leave my country, leave Czech republic and move to the Netherlands (to study further at conservatorium Utrecht) to find out that they had NOTHING to teach me in the Netherlands. The teacher I met in the Netherlands was probably the worst person I ever met and all that - again - only made me to remember the "old times" in Prague (and appreciate it deeply). ... It's just a pity that we sometimes "realize things a little too late". Later, I wished I could study with František again... older... smarter... more skilled... I remember one of our last phone-calls we had a few years ago. He was already somehow "recapitulating" his life and he mentioned that: "He had lots of students but only a few "Students"... and I was the last of these". ... So.... Dear František - let me excuse myself for how "wild and stupid" I was. Wish I was more prepared at some lessons... :) ... and I wish you peaceful etereal rest. Now you can join your father (famous pianist with same name) with his friend Prokofiev, you can join your own friends - Richter, Fišer and others and can have your heavenly-piano-jam forever. I will never forget and I will never stop being grateful for who I am, what I do and how I do it. You were one of the few MOST IMPORTANT persons in the process of "becoming myself".
Před 3 měsíci+2
P.S. - Yes... and I am sending 51048 cartons of Marlboro Red (100s) directly to the piano department in the heaven... (that should last for a few weeks) Probably smoking is prohibited there but as I remember, you smoked everywhere. In the class - nonstop, all over the school corridors. Just everywhere, the only person in school (well, except myself when I practiced in our class-room in the evenings.. ehm).
Always a feeling of huge loss when our teachers, our supporters, pass on. I have felt that way too as some of my beloved ballet teachers have left the planet. The passing of knowledge is one of the most beautiful things about our Arts. The love, the patience, and the generosity. Take solace in the fact that he recognized your talent and spent his time helping you along. Take care!
Před 3 měsíci
Well... memories remain (and of course not only memories). It's just that feeling that I would like to maybe talk with him once more (we did not have much contact in many years already). When I wrote my "mighty" opus 1 - crazy Toccata for piano, like 1,5 year ago, I sent him 2 prints to Prague by post (the piece is "dedicated" to him). I had no response how he liked the piece (or not?) and now, I will probably never find out.
@As a teacher, I would bet that he liked it more than he didn't. Teachers always seem to have more to say when there are things they don't like. Things to criticize, or correct. A Toccata? I performed to a toccata once. It was Carlos Chavez Toccata for Percussion....very interesting piece to dance to. Have you heard it? My teacher always chose interesting music to choreograph to. And the piece was quite modern for the times. (1975 or so)
Před 3 měsíci+1
@@redlantern3371I will check it out. Well... dancing on Toccata(s) I can imagine much easier. Toccatas usually are very energetic, "pulsing" and moving compositions. So that's somehow ideal for dancing.
This man, he "knew" me much earlier than I knew who he was. As a jury member at competitions where I played as a kid-prodigy, he knew very well who I am. But I had no idea who František Maxián was. When I was 17-18, that was somehow "pretty wild era" of my life. That time, I was totally techno-influenced, metamfetamins-addicted wild youngster who did not care piano at all. It could have been that when I was doing auditions to Prague conservatory, after being rejected from physics & computer programming gymnasium (which was not the best "option" for me.. but my parents did not want to let me go to Prague alone when I was 15 and finished my elementary), I was maybe 2-3 days without a single minute of sleep... don't remember exactly. Memories from this time are "little bit blurry"...
Anyway - František, that time the head of the piano department, I remember he was somehow "laughing" at me how "young, wild and stupid" I was. I remember, they (he) asked me a question during the auditions "If I could name a few world-renown pianists"... Well..., I could only say the name of Friedrich Gulda because I remembered the name from my mother's LPs... (and Rudolf Firkušný because some people used to call me like that when I was a kid - "young Firkušný"). I was just a "piano diletant" (at least talking about "knowledge", talent was hopefully there :) ).
So... that stupid I was, and still, he accepted me to his class. And exactly in the time when my father has given up his role as my father completely, I (luckily) met this man. František has shown me "how to be a total punk but also a noble gentleman in the same time" (compared to my father who was only the total punk...).
After 6 years, after finishing the Prague conservatory, somehow I was a "complete pianist / musician", ready for any challenge which was awaiting me.
I did not know this at the time (or wasn't thinking about it)... I had no idea HOW MUCH he taught me during this 6 years (OK.. not to forget all the other great teachers there too - theory, harmony, counterpoint etc etc. I was lucky for the perfect mix of teachers).
I had to leave my country, leave Czech republic and move to the Netherlands (to study further at conservatorium Utrecht) to find out that they had NOTHING to teach me in the Netherlands. The teacher I met in the Netherlands was probably the worst person I ever met and all that - again - only made me to remember the "old times" in Prague (and appreciate it deeply).
...
It's just a pity that we sometimes "realize things a little too late". Later, I wished I could study with František again... older... smarter... more skilled...
I remember one of our last phone-calls we had a few years ago. He was already somehow "recapitulating" his life and he mentioned that:
"He had lots of students but only a few "Students"... and I was the last of these".
...
So.... Dear František - let me excuse myself for how "wild and stupid" I was. Wish I was more prepared at some lessons... :) ... and I wish you peaceful etereal rest. Now you can join your father (famous pianist with same name) with his friend Prokofiev, you can join your own friends - Richter, Fišer and others and can have your heavenly-piano-jam forever.
I will never forget and I will never stop being grateful for who I am, what I do and how I do it.
You were one of the few MOST IMPORTANT persons in the process of "becoming myself".
P.S. - Yes... and I am sending 51048 cartons of Marlboro Red (100s) directly to the piano department in the heaven... (that should last for a few weeks)
Probably smoking is prohibited there but as I remember, you smoked everywhere. In the class - nonstop, all over the school corridors. Just everywhere, the only person in school (well, except myself when I practiced in our class-room in the evenings.. ehm).
Always a feeling of huge loss when our teachers, our supporters, pass on. I have felt that way too as some of my beloved ballet teachers have left the planet. The passing of knowledge is one of the most beautiful things about our Arts. The love, the patience, and the generosity. Take solace in the fact that he recognized your talent and spent his time helping you along. Take care!
Well... memories remain (and of course not only memories). It's just that feeling that I would like to maybe talk with him once more (we did not have much contact in many years already). When I wrote my "mighty" opus 1 - crazy Toccata for piano, like 1,5 year ago, I sent him 2 prints to Prague by post (the piece is "dedicated" to him). I had no response how he liked the piece (or not?) and now, I will probably never find out.
@As a teacher, I would bet that he liked it more than he didn't. Teachers always seem to have more to say when there are things they don't like. Things to criticize, or correct. A Toccata? I performed to a toccata once. It was Carlos Chavez Toccata for Percussion....very interesting piece to dance to. Have you heard it? My teacher always chose interesting music to choreograph to. And the piece was quite modern for the times. (1975 or so)
@@redlantern3371I will check it out. Well... dancing on Toccata(s) I can imagine much easier. Toccatas usually are very energetic, "pulsing" and moving compositions. So that's somehow ideal for dancing.
Lovely playing❤
Thank you. Appreciated.
@ and a great tribute. Your teacher should be pleased from wherever he is now 🙏