Felix Molski with Alex Storozynski |
Nasz przyjaciel i współpracownik Felix Molski podróżuje po USA szlakiem "liberty". Co kilka dni dzwoni i podekscytowany opowiada o kolejnych niezwykłych spotkaniach. Ostatnio (9 maja) wybrał się do Nowego Jorku na spotkanie z Alexem Storożyńskim, autorem znakomitej, wieloma nagrodami uhonorowanej książki "The Peasant Prince. Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution", książki obecnie filmowanej! Impreza pod hasłem "Kosciuszko - a Man Ahead of his Time. Presentation and book signing by Alex Storozynski" odbyła się w eleganckim "The National Arts Club". W tymże Klubie Felix miał wielkie szczęście spotkać legendarnego czarnoskórego pianistę Roya Eatona. Oto relacja Felixa pisana na gorąco, fotkami okraszona i przysłana emailem.
When Roy Eaton asked Alex Storozynski a question about the
establishment of the Kosciuszko Foundation, Alex recognized him as the first winner
of the Foundation's Chopin award [June 1950]. Then he related how when
Mizwa, the moving force behind the idea had trouble getting
the Polish community to donate funds. At around this time
the African/American community heard that it was being
created. Knowing of Kosciuszko's belief in liberty for all,
his call for release of slaves, as well as his Last Will, they began to donate what they could, children even donated their few cents. According to Alex, this embarassed the Polish community, who only then started to open up their pockets and bring Mizwa's idea into reality.
I was hoping to talk to Alex, but the queue to get his signature on the books they bought, seemed endless. When there were only a few left in line, I joined the end, and the last person was a lady who had marvelled that Kosciuszko was an artist.I pointed out to her that Kosciuszko was also a composer, and that his compositions were played at the summit of Mt Kosciuszko at an event organised by Puls Polonii. Roy Eaton happened to be 2nd last in the queue, and when he overheard that, his eyes lit up. He talked to me to learn more details and said that he would like to get a copy of the music. I explained how you are the driving force of Kosciuszko Heritage and I would
let you know of his request. So this is what I am doing.I said that you would also be able to send him links of
the performances at the summit [of Mt Kosciuszko].
Roy Eaton (right) with Felix Molski at the Arts Centre |
Alex Storozynski (right) with Felix Molski |
When I finally got to talk to Alex, it was late, for him as well as myself (I had a long drive to Philadelphia) I told him of my Fort Ticonderoga plans and then talked about Kosciuszko Heritage, and the film [about Kosciuszko]
and his coming to Australia. I also pointed out how what we
are dong is working - the Mt K. name changers have become silent, the [ADB] dictionary change and the story of the fact sheets [The Men, the Mountain, the Monument. Kosciuszko & Strzelecki]. He immediately became enthusiastic with the factsheet development
and said that we should let him know who in National Parks helped us the most and he would personally mail him a signed copy of his book [about Kosciuszko]. I thought this was very generous of Alex.
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One other point about the formation of Kosciuszko Foundation in the US, and not something Alex mentioned. I have read Mizwa's story when I was in Sydney, and I saw that one of the founding members
was Cedric E Fauntleroy. Fauntleroy was the first American [whom] pilot Merian C Cooper recruited in Paris for the newly formed Kosciuszko squadron. Because Fauntleroy outranked Cooper, he ended up being its first commander. Fauntleroy's uniform is in the Polish Museum of Chicago, I have photos, so his was
a name I was familiar with when I saw the list of founding
members. I thought it worth noting in my memory and so am
able to mention it now, because I always give Cooper a plug,
but Fauntleroy I hardly mention.
Attached are some photo opportunities I had at the talk. One
is Roy Eaton asking his question, others of him playing. He
did not play at the talk. The Arts Centre is big and there were a lot of other activities in other rooms. In one area, where they have dining facilities, there was a piano, and when Roy noticed this when he was on his way home, couldn't resist playing some Chopin. Not long there was a crowd listening. I should have taken a picture of the impromptu audience I guess.
Felix
Roy Eaton's website
"HANDICAP 1 ? I WAS BORN A NEGRO. Major handicap in USA 1930. But thanks to the vision of a powerful Jamaican mother, I was told to overcome prejudice I needed to do 200% to get credit for 100%. So that became my lifetime mantra. Handicap 2: I lost half of the first joint of my right fourth finger in an accident when I was 3. Yet I had the audacity to aspire to become a classical concert pianist. Mom encouraged me but cautioned me to develop other skills. After winning my first piano competition, I played in Carnegie Hall in 1937." - Roy about himself. Amazing stories - keep on reading!
And here you can listen to Roy playing Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu and see the photo of 7yo Roy at Carnegie Hall
Roy Eaton - UPCOMING APPEARANCES
Week of MAY 14 to MAY 19,2012 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM "Piano in the Park" Bryant Park 42nd St and 5th Avenue behind NY Public Library, performing works of Joplin, Chopin, Gershwin.
Kosciuszko Foundation about the Mizwa project
"In 1924, Dr. Stephen Paul Mizwa, an economics professor at Drake University, organized the Polish American Scholarship Committee. The committee was among the first exchange programs with the recently united Polish State. Five out of the first eight students came to America to study business administration and economics at prestigious American universities. The scholarship committee was the beginning of the Kosciuszko Foundation."
(Opr. Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek)
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