Violin students and music study clubs will get real help from these intimate interviews with the world's master violinists in which each artist describes his idea of 'Violin Mastery.' Eugene Ysaye, Mischa Elman, Jascha Heifetz, Fritz, Kreisler, Alber ... Read more

Violin students and music study clubs will get real help from these intimate interviews with the world's master violinists in which each artist describes his idea of 'Violin Mastery.' Eugene Ysaye, Mischa Elman, Jascha Heifetz, Fritz, Kreisler, Albert Spalding, Franz Kneisel and Maud Powell are among the 24 violinists represented. "My idea has always been to help bring out what nature has already given, rather than to use dogma to force a student's natural inclinations into channels I myself might prefer. And another great principle in my teaching, one which is productive of results, is to demand as much as possible of the pupil." -Leopold Auer "Frederick H. Martens is well known in the field of musical literature. His poems have been given musical setting in songs by Cadman, Kramer, and William Lester. Saenger has written librettos for a number of operettas. As a contributor to various musical magazines his name is known to our readers. His especial interest in the violinists who have won fame has led to his writing the present volume. 'Violin Mastery' is a book of interviews with violinists of our day. In this book they have discussed many of their secrets for the students' benefit. His subtitle, 'Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers,' gives a key to the plan of the volume....It is a work that will be of great value to those seeking information or improvement. It will suggest to the student many problems that wold not have entered his mind during his early violin playing....The book displays the author's fair analysis of the attainments of the musicians included, and the rare ability to gather from their experiences that which will be of most interest and value to the world at large. These two fundamental qualities make the book a masterwork in this line. It is fitted to the use of all and can be repeatedly read with added interest." -The Violinist "What you want for information on modern violinists." -Etude Magazine "A group of talks on the important phases of technique with the world's leading performers." -Publishers Weekly "A symposium of interviews with twenty-four violinists - from Ysaye to Toscha Seidel - introduced by biographical notes....This bushel of professional chaff will yield the pupil many a sound kernel of advice." -The Dial "This is a volume of intimate talks with master violinists and teachers, in which a number of famous artists and instructors discuss esthetic and technical phases of the art of violin playing in detail, their concept of what violin mastery means, and how it may be acquired." -Book Review Digest "We do not know how many violinists there are in America, but every one can find help in Frederick H. Martens' 'Violin Mastery,' a series of personal interviews with the world's master violinists." -The Atlantic "Interviews conducted in such a way as to lead each musician and teacher to express his view on those features of his work which give it its most characteristic values, the very heart of it, in fact. Ideal programs are suggested in numerous instances by the musicians interviewed. Besides being a book invaluable to students of the violin and to concert masters, it must also interest all music lovers." -The Bookseller ** Less