Lubowski Józef, *1824 Kraków, †13 April 1855 Kraków, Polish pianist and composer. Initially, he studied piano under J. Germasz in Krakow; after a successful concert debut there in 1837, he moved to Prague, where he continued his studies under V.J. Tomášek. After his return to the country in 1843, he started a career of piano-virtuoso, performing, among others, in Warsaw in 1845, where he received positive reviews, as well as in Lviv, Poznan and Dresden. His concerts, during which he showed off his spectacular tremolo, were very popular. He settled in Warsaw in 1846. Due to tuberculosis, he limited his concert activity and focused on composing. He wrote for piano, mainly in himself in mind as a performer. His dances, nocturnes, fantasias, studies and programme miniatures contain a national element and elements typical of virtuoso-salon music. Some of his works were published in Warsaw, Leipzig, and Vienna, and some are probably lost. Lubowski gained particular popularity with Fantaisie sur la Valse de Gallenberg (based on the theme of the song Tam na błoniu błyszczy kwiecie by W.R. Gallenberg with text by F. Kowalski), and the cycle Six études caractéristiques (published in Leipzig and Warsaw by G. Sennewald), considered his most mature work. Critics of the time appreciated Lubowski’s compositional talent while noticing the shortcomings of his technique (“lack of a more solid technical basis”).
Literature: J. Germasz O rokującym duże nadzieje pianiście Józefie Lubowskim, “Gazeta Krakowska” 1 XII 1843; “Gazeta Codzienna” 1854 no. 34, 1855 no. 88; “Ruch Muzyczny” 1858 no. 14; “Tygodnik Ilustrowany” 1867 no. 383, 384; “Echo Muzyczne, Teatralne i Artystyczne,” Warsaw 1886 no. 129.
