12MO., CLOTH, 1.00.
(DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION, TO DR. JOSEPH JOACHIM)
THE VIOLIN MUSIC OF BEETHOVEN,
Critically discussed, and Ill.u.s.trated with over FIFTY MUSICAL EXAMPLES,
BY J. MATTHEWS.
The book contains a.n.a.lytical and historical notes upon the Chamber Music of Beethoven, in which the violin takes part as a solo instrument, with some account of the various editions of the princ.i.p.al works; Beethoven"s method of working, as shown by his Sketch Books, etc. It is dedicated to Dr. JOACHIM, who has furnished some notes respecting the stringed instruments possessed by Beethoven.
_Extract from Author"s Preface_:--
"Young students often suppose that they ought to admire every work which proceeds from a great genius; an attempt therefore has been made to convey some idea of the relative art-value and importance of the various compositions discussed in these pages. For between the best work of any man and his least inspired, there is a wide difference. Certainly nothing annoyed the great master more than to hear his least mature works praised, especially at a time when many of his greatest creations were too little studied to be understood save by a few."
"Mr. John Matthews--dealing with Beethoven"s music in pleasant fashion, and at not too great length--gives an historical account, and in many instances short a.n.a.lyses, with ill.u.s.trations in music type of Beethoven"s works for this instrument, and particularly the sonatas (to which considerable s.p.a.ce is devoted), the trios, the quartets, and other compositions in which the master employed the violin. The book will be found by amateurs both interesting and instructive."--_Daily News._
"THE STRAD" LIBRARY, NO. XI.
12MO., CLOTH, 1.00.
Advice to Pupils & Teachers of the Violin,
BY BASIL ALTHAUS.
_Strongly recommended by_ =AUGUST WILHELMJ= & =GUIDO PAPINI=.
_London, March 18th, 1903._
DEAR MR. ALTHAUS,
I read your book, "Advice to Pupils and Teachers of the Violin," with great interest, and find it very useful. Hoping your book will meet with the success it deserves.
I am, yours sincerely, AUGUST WILHELMJ.
_London, Feb. 19th, 1903._
DEAR MR. ALTHAUS,
I have read with interest your admirable book, "Advice to Pupils and Teachers of the Violin." I have no hesitation in recommending it as an indispensable work to all aspiring violinists and teachers. Your remarks on the acquirement of the various bowings, with the many musical examples, are excellent. I know of no work on this important subject so explicit and exhaustive. Wishing your book the great success it deserves,
Believe me, yours sincerely, GUIDO PAPINI.
"I have read the 157 pages that go to form the book in question, and can say, without any misgiving, that Mr. Althaus has successfully achieved what he set out to do."--_Musical Standard._
"THE STRAD" LIBRARY, No. XII.
12MO., CLOTH, 1.00.
THE Repairing and Restoration of Violins,
BY HORACE PETHERICK.
_Of the Music Jury, International Inventions Exhibition, South Kensington, 1885; International Exhibition, Edinburgh, 1890; Expert in Law Courts, 1891; President of the Cremona Society._
WITH FIFTY ILl.u.s.tRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS.
The proper sort of glue--Its preparation and use--Loose fingerboards--Injuries to the scroll--Insertion of fresh wood--Fracture of peg-box and sh.e.l.l--Worn peg-holes--Refilling or boring same--Grafting--Lengthening the neck--Treatment of worm-holes--Fixing on graft on neck--Ways of removing the upper table and the neck--Cleansing the interior--Closing of cracks in upper table--Getting parts together that apparently do not fit--Treatment of warped lower table--Repairing old end blocks by new ones--Matching wood for large cracks--Replacing lost portions--Repairs to purfling--Removal of a fixed sound-post--Fitting a fresh part of worm-eaten rib--Lining a thin back--Fixing the bar--Varnishing, etc., etc.
"The author is a man of wide experience, and with him it is a labour of love, so that few more suitable hands could be found for the task. To him fiddles are quite human in their characteristics, needing a "physician within beck and call," and developing symptoms capable of temporary alleviation or permanent cure, as the case may be, and no remedial measures are left undescribed."--_Musical News._
"Mr. Petherick is a man of wide experience in violins, so his hints about the treatment and care of the instrument are invaluable. His imaginary interviews are both clever and amusing, and, moreover, contain useful information of what to do, and avoid, in the treatment of violins."--_Hereford Times._
"THE STRAD" LIBRARY, No. XIII.
12MO., CLOTH, 1.00.
THE VIOLIN: Solo Playing, Soloists and Solos,
BY WILLIAM HENLEY.
"Mr. William Henley is an excellent performer, and his book, "The Violin: Solo Playing, Soloists and Solos," is the result of considerable practice in the art he discusses.... The opening advice to violin students, the insistence on tune first and then on tone, the latter depending greatly for its excellence upon the correctness of the former, is not only worth saying, but is said well, and with conviction. Mr.
Henley discriminates well between violinists: Joachim, the cla.s.sic; Carrodus, the plain; Sarasate, the neat and elegant; and Wilhelmj, the fiery and bold.... The list of violin concertos, given in the last chapter but one of the book, seems a very complete one, and should be useful for purposes of reference."--_The London and Provincial Music Trades Review._
"For the student whose intention it is to make the violin a means of livelihood--the professional soloist or orchestral player in embryo--this little work, written in a spirit of obvious sincerity, is well-nigh invaluable.... The chapters on "Teaching and Studies," "The Artist," "Phrasing," "Conception," and "True Feeling," are very well written, and the whole work is worth careful and diligent perusal."--_The Musical World._
"The author of this book has thought much and deeply on the fascinating subject of which he treats, and is ent.i.tled to a hearing.... The author"s remarks on "Tone" are excellently conceived, and of no small interest, the subject being less hackneyed than that of ordinary technique. In his chapter on "Style" he reminds the readers of the many factors which go to the making of a fine violinist, among which Style--which is the outcome of the imagination and the sensibility of the player--is one of the most important. The fine executant is common enough now-a-days, but the fine stylist as rare as ever."--_Musical News._