In the development of music, the art of violin has a history of more than 300 years, and countless violin composers, performers, and educators have emerged.
Since the 20th century, the art of violin has developed by leaps and bounds, especially violinists have attracted much attention. The following are the three major violinists in the contemporary world.
1. Fritz Kreisler
At the age of 7, Kreisler entered the Vienna Academy of Music. After graduating at the age of 10, he entered the Paris Conservatory of Music and studied under the famous professor Mazar of the Fabian Violin School.
He was 12 years old when he graduated as one of the finalists. Therefore, Kreisler's performance combines the warm human touch of the Viennese with the French aristocratic demeanor, which makes his performance style novel and unique.
Almost all contemporary violinists have been influenced by him, such as Heifetz, Enescu, Thibaud, David Oistrakh, and so on.
The most symbolic style of Kreisler's playing is the use of vibrato (string vibrato). He gives vibrato a dramatic style, whether it is a melodious singing melody or a fast-paced technical passage.
Here, vibrato has become the most powerful means of expression and means of color enhancement, and this is where his predecessors are very cautious.
2. Georges Enescu
Regarding his piano performance, even the famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein said: "He is a great pianist, even I should be jealous." As a conductor, he is well respected all over the world.
The biggest feature of Enescu's violin performance is the organic combination of the performance techniques of the Fabi school and the performance tradition of Romanian folk music (Laoutari) that he loved in his childhood, forming a very unique performance style.
Because of his various musical talents, including composition, his performance gives the impression that he is not only playing the piano but also improvising. Every time he performs, it feels fresh, like performing a new work.
Enescu's violin performance is unique in bowing. He likes wide bow legato, which makes his performance full of vitality.
3. Jascha Heifetz
After graduation, Heifetz performed in Berlin and Scandinavia. In the summer of 1917, he and his family came to California, USA, and made his debut at Carnegie Hall in New York, playing Paganini's "24th Caprice" and so on.
The performance was very successful, especially his mastery of difficult skills with his left hand, and the steady and skilled bow with his right hand left a deep impression on all the audience present, most of whom were performers.
In 1925, Heifetz became a U.S. citizen. Heifetz attaches great importance to the training of basic violin skills, especially the practice of scales, and advocates that the practice of scales should account for more than half of the entire piano practice time.
His playing style reflects his devilish technique and fiery personality, and the modern classical style is what he follows. His playing is like bel canto, every portamento is finely crafted, and every bow movement is musical.
His perfect combination of musicality and technique makes him the most influential violinist today and has influenced many subsequent violinists.