Erich Gruenberg facts for kids

Erich Gruenberg OBE (born October 12, 1924 – died August 7, 2020) was a famous violinist and teacher. He was born in Austria but later became a British citizen.

After studying music in Israel, he became a top violinist. He played with major orchestras like the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. He was also a soloist, meaning he played by himself with an orchestra. He performed Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto for the first time in Moscow. Erich Gruenberg also played in small music groups, leading the London String Quartet. He recorded all of Beethoven's violin sonatas with pianist David Wilde. A cool fact is that he was the main violinist for The Beatles' famous album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Gruenberg taught at the Royal Academy of Music until he was 95 years old. He helped many young violinists learn and grow.

Early Life and Musical Start

Erich Gruenberg was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1924. His parents were Kathrine and Herman Gruenberg. He began his music studies in Vienna. Later, he continued his education at the Jerusalem Conservatory.

From 1938 to 1945, he was the lead violinist, or concertmaster, for the Palestine Broadcasting Corporation Orchestra. In 1946, he moved to London, England. He lived there for the rest of his life and became a British citizen in 1950.

Becoming a Famous Soloist

In 1947, Erich Gruenberg won the Carl Flesch International Violin Competition. This competition did not offer money, but it brought him worldwide fame. He then performed as a soloist in many countries.

He was the first to play Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto in Russia. This was a very important performance. On August 11, 1971, he played Beethoven's Violin Concerto at the Proms. This was a famous concert series at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He played with the BBC Orchestra, led by Adrian Boult. In 1983, he also played Alfred Schnittke's Violin Concerto No. 3 at the Proms for the first time there.

Orchestra and Chamber Music

Gruenberg was a lead violinist for several major orchestras. He played with the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra starting in 1955. From 1962 to 1965, he was with the London Symphony Orchestra. Then, from 1972 to 1975, he played for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Besides playing in large orchestras, he also enjoyed playing chamber music. This is music played by a small group of musicians. He was the first violinist for the London String Quartet. He performed chamber music many times throughout his career.

Teaching and Recordings

Erich Gruenberg was also a dedicated teacher. He taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama starting in 1982. From 1989, he taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He continued teaching until he was 95 years old, sharing his knowledge with new generations of violinists. He also served as a judge for many international music competitions.

Gruenberg made many recordings during his career. He recorded Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra. He also recorded all of Beethoven's violin sonatas with pianist David Wilde. He was also known for playing contemporary music, which means music written in his own time. This included works by composers like Roberto Gerhard and Olivier Messiaen. In 1976, he made the first recording of David Morgan's 1966 Violin Concerto. He played this with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Playing for The Beatles

One of the most unique parts of Gruenberg's career was his work with The Beatles. He played violin on several of their songs. He was the lead violinist for their very famous album, Sgt. Pepper. You can hear his violin playing on songs like "A Day in the Life", "She's Leaving Home", and "Within You Without You". The band even had him wear a funny prop gorilla paw on his bowing hand while he played!

Awards and Legacy

In 1994, Erich Gruenberg was given an award called the OBE. This stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire. It is a special honor from the British government. He played a very old and valuable violin made by Stradivarius in 1731.

Erich Gruenberg passed away in Hampstead Garden Suburb, England, on August 7, 2020. He was 95 years old. He left behind a great legacy as a talented violinist and a beloved teacher.