Duranowski, August Fryderyk (EN)

Duranowski, Durand, August Fryderyk, *ca. 1770 Warsaw, †1834 Strasbourg, Polish violinist and composer. The son of a Polish woman and a French émigré named Durand; according to A. Chybiński, he was the “kapellmeister to the Ogiński princes in Słonim”, whilst F.-J. Fetis and others describe him as a court musician in the service of the last King of Poland. Duranowski appears in sources under both surnames, sometimes with the order of the names reversed; the surname Duranowski was already used by his father.

A.F. Duranowski began learning the violin from his father and, from 1787, continued his studies in Paris under G.B. Viotti. In 1790 he was concertmaster at the opera in Brussels; between 1794 and 1795 he performed in Italy and Germany. For unknown reasons, he broke off his career as a virtuoso and, around 1796, joined the French army; he took part in Napoleon’s Italian campaign as an aide-de-camp to General Menou. Under unexplained circumstances, he was imprisoned in Milan. After his release, he continued his concert tours, playing on several occasions at the court of Napoleon I, amongst other venues. In mid-1809, he arrived in Warsaw and remained there for some time. In 1810, he gave several intermission concerts at the National Theatre (16 February, 9 March, 2 and 9 April, 9 May?, 19 June), performing his own works as well as those by Rode and Viotti, and fantasies on themes from national songs and operas, to great acclaim. Between 1810 and 1814, he gave concerts in Russia (?), Leipzig, Dresden, Kassel, Frankfurt am Main, Mainz, Darmstadt and Prague. Around 1812, he was first violinist in the ducal orchestra in Kassel and Aschaffenburg. From 1814 to 1834, he lived in Strasbourg, serving as concertmaster in the theatre orchestra. During this period, he made brief trips to Germany and France.

Duranowski was one of the most famous violinists of his time, enjoying unprecedented success. His playing was characterised by a powerful tone, brilliant technique – particularly in passages, trills and bowing – and a spirited performance style. N. Paganini spoke enthusiastically of Duranowski’s technical prowess, claiming that it was to the Polish violinist that he owed his thorough understanding of the violin’s virtuosic possibilities, such as the effect of carrying the melody whilst simultaneously using pizzicato on the lower strings. K. Lipiński also counted Duranowski among the finest violinists.

Duranowski composed around 30 virtuoso pieces for violin. Although they did not gain lasting recognition, they were popular during the composer’s lifetime and immediately after his death; in Poland, they were performed by S. Serwaczyński. Duranowski’s popularity is evidenced by references in the press, numerous arrangements and publications of his compositions (particularly the duets from Opp. 1, 2 and 3, featuring variations on themes from famous operas). Duranowski’s works have been lost; a catalogue of his compositions has been compiled on the basis of the relevant literature and references and reviews in the press (“Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung” 1812 No. 10, No. 37; 1813 No. 19, No. 34; “Gazeta Warszawska” 1809 No. 59, 1810 No. 26, No. 48; “Gazeta Korespondenta Warszawskiego i Zagranicznego” 1809 No. 635, 1810 No. 30). An incomplete manuscript of the parts for the potpourris Op. 10 and 11 is held by the Jagiellonian Library in Kraków.