:: Historical Notes ::

JOACHIM AND LÉONARD AS TEACHERS

Tivadar Nachéz, the celebrated violin virtuoso, is better known as a concertizing artist in Europe, where he has played with all the leading symphonic orchestras, than in this country, to which he paid his first visit during these times of war, and which he was about to leave for his London home when the writer had the pleasure of meeting him. Yet, though he has not appeared in public in this country (if we except some Red Cross concerts in California, at which he gave his auditors of his best to further our noblest war charity), his name is familiar to every violinist. For is not Mr. Nachéz the composer of the “Gypsy Dances” for violin and piano, which have made him famous?

Genuinely musical, effective and largely successful as they have been, however, as any one who has played them can testify, the composer of the “Gypsy Dances” regards them with mixed feelings. “I have done other work that seems to me, relatively, much more important,” said Mr. Nachéz, “but when my name happens to be mentioned, echo always answers ‘Gypsy Dances,’ my little rubbishy ‘Gypsy Dances!’ It is not quite fair. I have published thirty-five works, among them a ‘Requiem Mass,’ an orchestral overture, two violin concertos, three rhapsodies for violin and orchestra, variations on a Swiss theme, Romances, a Polonaise (dedicated to Ysaye), and Evening Song, three Poèmes hongrois, twelve classical masterworks of the 17th century—to say nothing of songs, etc.—and the two concertos of Vivaldi and Nardini which I have edited, practically new creations, owing to the addition of the piano accompaniments and orchestral score. I wrote the ‘Gypsy Dances’ as a mere boy when I was studying with H. Léonard in Paris, and really at his suggestion. In one of my lessons I played Sarasate’s ‘Spanish Dances,’ which chanced to be published at the time, and at once made a great hit. So Léonard said to me: ‘Why not write some Hungarian Gypsy dances—there must be wonderful material at hand in the music of the Tziganes of Hungary. You should do something with it!’ I took him at his word, and he liked my ‘Dances’ so well that he made me play them at his musical evenings, which he gave often during the winter, and which were always attended by the musical Tout Paris! I may say that during these last thirty years there has been scarcely a violinist before the public who at one time or the other has not played these ‘Gypsy Dances.’ Besides the original edition, there are two (pirated!) editions in America and six in Europe.

Violin Mastery
Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers
by Frederick H. Martens
Published 1919

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