Jan Kubelík facts for kids
Jan Kubelík (born July 5, 1880 – died December 5, 1940) was a famous Czech violin player and composer. He was known around the world for his amazing skill on the violin.
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Early Life and Training
Jan Kubelík was born in Michle, which is now part of Prague. His father was a gardener, but he also loved playing the violin as a hobby. He taught his two sons how to play. When Jan was just five years old, his father saw that he had a special talent for music. Because of this, Jan began to study with other teachers like Karel Weber and Karel Ondříček.
When Jan was eight, he went to the Prague Conservatory, a special music school. There, he studied with a famous teacher named Otakar Ševčík. Jan became the most well-known student of Ševčík's teaching style. As a child, Jan practiced the violin for 10 to 12 hours every day. He even said he practiced "until my fingers started to bleed!" This shows how dedicated he was to becoming a great violinist.
Becoming a Star
After finishing his studies in 1898, Jan Kubelík started touring as a solo performer. He quickly became famous for his incredible skill and perfect playing. People also loved the rich and beautiful sound he made with his violin. He played on very special violins, including one made by Giuseppe Guarneri and two made by Stradivarius. In 1910, he bought a Stradivarius violin from 1715 called the "Emperor."
Jan had a huge success when he first performed in Vienna. Then, he played in London in 1900 at a concert led by Hans Richter. After that, Kubelík toured the USA for the first time in 1901. He played for the Royal Philharmonic Society in London in 1901–1902. In 1902, this society gave him their Gold Medal, which is a very high honor. He also helped the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra financially and brought them to London in 1902.
Family and Recordings
In 1903, Jan Kubelík married Countess Anna Julie Marie Széll von Bessenyö. She was the niece of Kálmán Széll, who used to be the Prime Minister of Hungary. Jan and Anna had eight children together. Five of their children were daughters who also played the violin. One of their sons, Rafael Kubelík, became a famous conductor.
Jan Kubelík made many recordings of his music. He recorded for companies like The Gramophone and Typewriter Ltd. and Victor Record. He also recorded with Fonotipia, Odeon, and Schallplatte Grammophon/Polydor.
In 1904, he recorded with the famous singer Dame Nellie Melba. Their recording of the Bach-Gounod Ave Maria became a very popular early record. It helped make the gramophone a success. They recorded it again in 1905 and then two more times in 1913 as technology improved. A concert he gave at Carnegie Hall in 1935 was also recorded and has been released again for people to listen to today.
Later Life and Legacy
Jan Kubelík also wrote his own music. He composed six violin concertos, which are long pieces for violin and orchestra. He continued to perform in public until he died. He took a break from concerts between the end of World War I and 1920 to focus on composing. In 1920, he started touring again. In 1917, he was made an honorary member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music group.
Jan Kubelík passed away in Prague in 1940 when he was 60 years old. He left behind a legacy as one of the greatest violinists of his time.
Selected Works
Jan Kubelík wrote many pieces for the violin. Here are some of his most well-known works:
Violin and Orchestra
- Concerto No. 1 in C major (published in 1920)
- Concerto No. 2
- Concerto No. 3
- Concerto No. 4 in B♭ major (published around 1932)
- Concerto No. 5
- Concerto No. 6
- Cadenzas (special solo parts) for the Violin Concerto in D major, Op.61 by Ludwig van Beethoven
- Cadenzas for the Violin Concerto in D major, Op.77 by Johannes Brahms
- Cadenzas for the Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Violin and Piano
- Burlesque
- Oriental Scene (published around 1931)
- Menuett (published in 1931)
Images for kids
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Statue of Jan Kubelík by T. Kostanjević; 2007
Opatija, Croatia
See also
In Spanish: Jan Kubelík para niños
