Lillian Fuchs facts for kids

Lillian Fuchs (born November 18, 1901 – died October 5, 1995) was an amazing American violist, teacher, and composer. Many people thought she was one of the best musicians of her time. She came from a very musical family. Her brothers, Joseph Fuchs, who played the violin, and Harry Fuchs, who played the cello, often performed and recorded music with her.

Becoming a Musician

Lillian Fuchs was born in New York City into a family full of musicians. Her brothers, Joseph and Harry, were also talented musicians. Lillian first started learning to play the piano. Later, she switched to the violin, studying with her father. She then went to the Institute of Musical Art (which is now the famous Juilliard School) to study violin with Franz Kneisel. She also learned how to compose music there with Percy Goetschius.

Her Musical Journey

Lillian Fuchs had a very successful career teaching music. She taught at well-known schools like the Manhattan School of Music, the Juilliard School, and the Aspen Music Festival and School. She even helped start a music school called the Blue Hill Music School with her brother Joseph. Many of her students became famous musicians themselves, including Martha Strongin Katz and Lawrence Dutton.

Lillian also wrote important music books for the viola. Her books, like Twelve Caprices for Viola and Fifteen Characteristic Studies for Viola, are still used today by students all over the world. Even the famous violist William Primrose loved her books! She also composed a piece for solo viola called Sonata Pastorale.

She was known for her beautiful, warm sound and her amazing skill on the viola. She played on special, old instruments. One was made by Matteo Goffriller and another by Gasparo da Salò. She also used a unique bow made by John Dodd. This bow was shorter than most, which Lillian liked because it gave her more control. She also preferred using a special gut 'A' string on her old instruments, believing it sounded best.

Lillian Fuchs first performed in New York as a violinist in 1926. But soon after, her teacher, Franz Kneisel, encouraged her to switch to the viola. She later became a founding member of the Perolé Quartet, playing viola with them for 20 years. She also played with other famous groups like the Budapest and Amadeus String Quartets. She often performed with her brothers, Joseph and Harry. She was a soloist with major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic. In 1947, a composer named Bohuslav Martinů wrote a piece called 'Madrigals' especially for Lillian and Joseph after hearing them play together.

Besides teaching viola, Lillian Fuchs was also a very important teacher of chamber music (music for small groups of instruments). Some of her famous students included Isaac Stern and Pinchas Zukerman. Her love for music was passed down through her family. Her daughters, Barbara Stein Mallow (a cellist) and Carol Stein Amado (a violinist), and her granddaughter, Jeanne Abby Mallow (a violist and violinist), and grandson, David Amado (a conductor), all became musicians.

Her Recordings

Lillian Fuchs made many recordings, especially on vinyl. Today, many of these recordings are rare and sought after by collectors. Recently, some of her recordings of the Bach Cello Suites were re-released on CD. She was the first person to perform and record these famous Bach Suites on the viola. It's said that even the legendary cellist Pablo Casals was so impressed by her playing of the Sixth Suite that he told her it sounded even better on the viola than on the cello! She used her Matteo Goffriller viola for these recordings.