Fritz Kreisler

One of the most noted violin masters of his day, and regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time, Fritz Kreisler was known for his sweet tone on the violin and expressive phrasing. Like many great violinists of his generation, he produced a characteristic sound which was immediately recognizable as his own. Although it derived in many respects from the Franco-Belgian school, his style is nonetheless reminiscent of the gemütlich (cozy) lifestyle of pre-war Vienna. Kreisler wrote a number of pieces for the violin, including solos for encores, such as "Liebesleid" and "Liebesfreud". Some of Kreisler's compositions were pastiches ostensibly in the style of other composers. They were originally ascribed to earlier composers, such as Gaetano PugnaniGiuseppe Tartini and Antonio Vivaldi, and then, in 1935, Kreisler revealed that it was he who wrote the pieces. When critics complained, Kreisler replied that they had already deemed the compositions worthy: "The name changes, the value remains", he said.

I am slowly adding many of his violin and piano works, arranged for viola and piano. So far listed are the Grave in the style of W.F. Bach,  Andantino in the Style of Martini,  Rondino on a theme by Beethoven, Syncopation,Toy Soldiers, and the Chanson Louis XIII in the style of Couperin.

Here is a link to the Kreisler scores.

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published