Constance Keene
Encyclopedia
Constance Keene was an American pianist, who attracted great praise for her 1964 recording of Sergei Rachmaninoff
's Preludes, and also won critical acclaim for her recordings of the works of Johann Nepomuk Hummel
, Carl Maria von Weber
and Felix Mendelssohn
.
She was raised in Brooklyn
, New York City
. One of her teachers was Abram Chasins
. She won the Naumburg Piano Competition in 1943. In 1946, she stood in for Vladimir Horowitz
when he was unavailable for a concert, and she claimed she was the only female pianist to have ever been given this honour.
In 1949 she married Chasins, who died in 1987. They performed and recorded music for piano duo. She later became a teacher herself. Her pupils included the children of Arthur Rubinstein
, who said he was "flabbergasted by the colour, sweep and imagination and ... incredible technique. I cannot imagine anybody, including Rachmaninoff, playing the piano so beautifully".
For many years, she was on the piano faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, and was a member of its Board of Trustees. She was also sought out as a piano competition adjudicator.
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
's Preludes, and also won critical acclaim for her recordings of the works of Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Johann Nepomuk Hummel or Jan Nepomuk Hummel was an Austrian composer and virtuoso pianist. His music reflects the transition from the Classical to the Romantic musical era.- Life :...
, Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
and Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
.
She was raised in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. One of her teachers was Abram Chasins
Abram Chasins
Abram Chasins was an American composer, pianist, piano teacher, lecturer, musicologist, music broadcaster, radio executive and author....
. She won the Naumburg Piano Competition in 1943. In 1946, she stood in for Vladimir Horowitz
Vladimir Horowitz
Vladimir Samoylovich Horowitz was a Russian-American classical virtuoso pianist and minor composer. His technique and use of tone color and the excitement of his playing were legendary. He is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.-Life and early...
when he was unavailable for a concert, and she claimed she was the only female pianist to have ever been given this honour.
In 1949 she married Chasins, who died in 1987. They performed and recorded music for piano duo. She later became a teacher herself. Her pupils included the children of Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
, who said he was "flabbergasted by the colour, sweep and imagination and ... incredible technique. I cannot imagine anybody, including Rachmaninoff, playing the piano so beautifully".
For many years, she was on the piano faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, and was a member of its Board of Trustees. She was also sought out as a piano competition adjudicator.