James Friskin

James Friskin
Born	3 March 1886 Glasgow
Died	16 March 1967 New York City
Nationality	Scottish, American
Occupation	Classical music pianist, composer and teacher

James Friskin (3 March 1886 in Glasgow – 16 March 1967 in New York City) was a Scottish-born pianist, composer and music teacher who relocated to the United States in 1914.

Friskin studied at the Royal College of Music under Edward Dannreuther (for composition) and under Charles Villiers Stanford (for piano). After completing his studies, from 1909 to 1914 he taught at the Royal Normal College for the Blind. In 1914, he immigrated to the United States, where he taught at the Institute of Musical Arts. He was an original faculty member of the Juilliard Graduate School, and continued teaching there until his death.

He and the English-born composer and violist Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979) married in New York City in 1944.

In 1925, he was the first pianist to perform J. S. Bach's Goldberg Variations in the United States. He recorded that work in 1956. In 1934, he performed both books of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier in two recitals in New York.

His obituarist in The New York Times wrote, "he became known as a Bach specialist long before others began specializing in baroque composers", and "he doesn't exaggerate or distort the music and plays Bach in a way that goes to the heart of the music. Friskin was not pedantic in his approach to Bach. Nor was he overly Romantic, an accusation that has been levelled at some of his more famous contemporaries."

These include:

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