Fritz Kreisler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fritz Kreisler
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | February 2, 1875 Vienna, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | January 29, 1962 (aged 86) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, violinist |
| Instruments | Violin |
| Years active | 1903–1950 |
Fritz Kreisler (born February 2, 1875 – died January 29, 1962) was an amazing Austrian-born American violin player and composer. He was known as one of the best violinists of his time, and many people still think he is one of the greatest ever. He was famous for his sweet sound and how he made music sound very expressive.
Like many great violinists, he had a special sound that you could recognize right away. His style was influenced by a famous French and Belgian way of playing. But it also reminded people of the cozy, friendly feeling of Vienna before the big wars.
Contents
About Fritz Kreisler's Life
Fritz Kreisler was born in Vienna, which was part of Austria-Hungary at the time. His father, Samuel Kreisler, was a doctor. Fritz started learning music at a very young age.
Early Studies and Big Wins
He studied at the Vienna Conservatory. His teachers included famous musicians like Anton Bruckner. He also studied in Paris, France. There, he learned from teachers like Léo Delibes.
When he was just 12 years old, Fritz won a gold medal called the "Premier Grand Prix de Rome" in Paris. This was a huge achievement! He competed against 40 other players, and all of them were at least 20 years old.
Starting His Career
Fritz Kreisler first performed in the United States in New York City on November 10, 1888. He then went on a tour across the U.S. in 1888–1889 with another musician named Moriz Rosenthal.
After his tour, he went back to Austria. He tried to get a job with the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, but they didn't hire him. Because of this, he stopped playing music for a while and decided to study medicine instead. He even spent a short time in the army.
Return to Music and Fame
In 1899, Fritz Kreisler decided to return to playing the violin. He gave a concert with the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra. This concert, along with more tours in America from 1901 to 1903, made him truly famous. He was also a very good piano player!
In 1910, a famous composer named Sir Edward Elgar wrote a special violin concerto just for Fritz. Fritz performed it for the very first time.
Life During World Wars
Fritz Kreisler served briefly in the Austrian Army during World War I. He was honorably released after he got injured. He then moved to New York City in November 1914 and stayed in America for the rest of the war.
He went back to Europe in 1924, living in Berlin and then France. But when World War II started, he moved back to the United States. He became an American citizen in 1943. He lived in the U.S. for the rest of his life. His last public concert was in 1947, but he continued to broadcast performances for a few more years.
Later Years and Passing
On April 26, 1941, Fritz Kreisler was in a serious car accident in New York. A truck hit him, and he suffered a fractured skull. He was in a coma for more than a week.
In his older years, he had trouble hearing and his eyesight got worse because of cataracts. Fritz Kreisler passed away in New York City in 1962 from a heart condition. He was buried in a private mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York City.
Fritz Kreisler's Musical Legacy
Fritz Kreisler wrote many pieces for the violin. Some of his most famous short pieces, often played as encores, include "Liebesleid" (Love's Sorrow) and "Liebesfreud" (Love's Joy).
The "Musical Hoax"
Interestingly, some of Kreisler's compositions were written to sound like they were by other, older composers. He pretended they were by people like Gaetano Pugnani or Antonio Vivaldi. Then, in 1935, he revealed that he had actually written them himself!
When some critics complained, Kreisler famously replied, "The name changes, the value remains." This meant that the music was still good, no matter who wrote it.
Other Compositions
He also wrote music for operettas, which are like light operas. These include Apple Blossoms (1919) and Sissy (1932). He also wrote a string quartet and special solo parts for concertos called cadenzas. His cadenzas for Beethoven's Violin Concerto are still the most popular ones played by violinists today.
Fritz Kreisler also wrote music for the 1936 movie The King Steps Out. This movie was about the early life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
His Famous Violins
Fritz Kreisler owned several very old and valuable violins. These were made by famous instrument makers like Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri. Many of these violins are now known by his name.
In 1952, he gave his Giuseppe Guarneri violin to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. This special violin is still used there for performances.
His Playing Style
When you listen to Kreisler's recordings, his playing style is very expressive. He often used a continuous and varied vibrato (a slight wavering of pitch) and made his musical phrases very emotional. He also used techniques like portamento (sliding between notes) and rubato (flexible tempo).
Works by Fritz Kreisler
Compositions
- Further information: List of compositions by Fritz Kreisler and Musical hoax
Recordings
Fritz Kreisler made many recordings throughout his career. His last recordings were made in 1950. These recordings help us still enjoy his amazing talent today.
- He recorded Beethoven's Violin Concerto twice.
- He also recorded Brahms's Violin Concerto.
- Other recordings include works by Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Paganini.
- He even recorded his own version of a Vivaldi violin concerto, which he actually composed himself!
Broadway Shows
Fritz Kreisler also contributed to music for Broadway shows:
- Apple Blossoms (1919) – he was a co-composer for this operetta.
- Continental Varieties (1934) – he wrote music for parts of this show.
- Reunion in New York (1940) – he wrote music for a song called "Stars in Your Eyes."
- Rhapsody (1944) – he was the composer for this operetta.
See also
In Spanish: Fritz Kreisler para niños
