A VETERAN VIOLINIST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 3 October 1907, Page 1

A VETERAN VIOLINIST.

JOACHIM AND THE MUSICAL WORLD. The musical world ot London to-day — and not of London only, but of the whole European Continent — is mourning the loss of one of the greatest violinists of all time, Dr Josef Joachim, whoso death occurred at Berlin recently. The end was not unexpected, for the eminent musician had been in failing health for some time; indeed, or two different occasions this year he was expected in London, but each time his arrangements had to be cancelled on account of illness. In Josef Joachim, who was in the 77th year of his age, the world has lost not merely the greatest violinist of our time, but a man of exceptional beauty of nature and character. No one of the many Continental musicians who have visited England had endeared himself more to the British musical public than had Dr Joachim. Sixty-three years have passed since he made his first apearance here, and in that period he had made himself known to several generations of music-lovers. He was alink with Mendelssohn and with Leipsig of the interesting past; indeed, on the occasion of his first appearance in London, in the year 1844, he took part in one of the Philharmonic concerts, whose conductor for that season was Mendelssohn himself. The year 1904, the 60th anniversary of Joachim's appearance in England, was made the occasion of an imposing celebration here. At a special concert at the Queen's Hall he played the Beethoven concerto and conducted a performance of his own "Henry 1V.," while from the hands of Mr Arthur Balfour he received his portrait painted by Sargent. In many respects the commemeration was noteworthy even if only because it was the last time he appeared aa the performer of the solo part of a concerto. Latterly he had devoted himself exclusively to concerted work represented by quartet playing for which he had special qualifications. Musical Londoners have always looks eagerly for any announcements regarding dates for performances by the famous Joachim Quartet. As an interpreter of the works of Beethoven and of Brahms, Joachim's efforts have left their mark upon history, for his readings were always distinguished by their purity, their freedom from sensationalism, and their earnestness. The characteristics of the man were found in his work, and for this reason his memory will ever 1)0 cherished by those who have at heart th« maintenance of musical art in the hiuhest form. All recognise that one of the greatest artists who ever snoke tn the world through the medium of the violin has left us, and the art he so well loved is suffering from a heavy blow and great discouragement ; in his sphere he had attained great influence, and had used it with unsurpassed singleness of aim and purity of purpose. At the concert in Berlin which celebrated his 60th anniversary as a performer in public the extent of his influence on the musical culture of Europe was shown by the fact that more than 160 players of stringed instruments at that concert were either past or present, pupils of the preat master. — A Ixindon correspondent.