Books › Famous violinists and fine violins : historical notes, anecdotes, and reminiscences, 1896 › scan 267
Scan 267
Famous violinists and fine violins : historical notes, anecdotes, and reminiscences, 1896
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 247. See the scan on archive.org.
1HENRI VIEUXTEMPS
3When a concert by Henri Vieuxtemps was about to take place, we used to see in various parts of the city great posters on which the word
5VIEUXTEMPS
7was printed in enormous characters, each letter being more than a yard long. He appears to have been the first "star" violinist to adopt that fashion of announcing himself to the public. Of late years it has been copied ad nauseam, and quite small artistes announce themselves in big characters in our country towns. But from 1849 to 1859 this method of advertising was very exceptional, and usually produced a certain effect, because none but the greatest performers were so announced. If a comparatively unknown violinist had adopted such a measure, the result would have been very different; for it would have engendered ridicule, and nothing kills like ridicule in Belgium and France.
9At his concerts Vieuxtemps appeared to revel in difficulties, and his playing was more or less of the Paganini school, but sobered down by the classical influence of De Bériot. As I have before said, he had a remarkably fine tone; at the slightest touch of his bow every fibre of the violin seemed to vibrate, and to produce the fullest and roundest tone of which the instrument was capable. His staccato and arpeggio were also the finest that could
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