Zarzycki, Aleksander

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(b Lwów, Feb 26, 1834; d Warsaw, Nov 1, 1895). Polish pianist and composer. He studied the piano in Berlin under Rudolf Viole, at the same time giving concerts with the violinist Biernacki in Poznań and Kraków (1856–7). From 1857 he studied composition under N.H. Reber and C. Reinecke in Paris, and in 1860 performed in a composers’ concert at the Salle Hertz, where he played his Grande polonaise op.7 and Piano Concerto op.17. He played in Germany and Austria (1862–3) and in 1866 gave many concerts in Warsaw; he later performed in Germany and England, and in Polish towns (1867). In 1865 he settled in Warsaw where, besides performing, he gave music lessons and composed. He was one of the founders and the first director of the Warsaw Music Society (1871–5), and after the death of Kątski he became director of the Music Institute (...