A FAMOUS VIOLINIST.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12398, 13 November 1908, Page 3

A FAMOUS VIOLINIST.

The death occurred rather suddenly on a recent Sunday of Senor Pablo Sarasate, the' famous _ violinist, at Biarritz,, at. the age of sixty-four. Born at Pampeluna, the old capital of Navarre, Sarasate played .'at " his . first concert at the age of six. ■ Four years later his fame reached -the bourt at Madrid, and he was' invited to play before Queen Isabella. Her Maiesty was. so charmed that she gave to "the little fellow a Stradivari violin dated 1724. This fine instrument, . on which he frequently played in public, is valued at £1000, and now reverts to the State.

In his native town he was hailed as a demi-Rbd. Once a year he appeared at -Pampeluna. and-tho-whole town kept holiday. The streets were decorated with flags, and there were processions - and bull-fights. ■ He would, give two or three concerts, but the proudest moment was when he stepped out oii'a balcony and played to the poor of the toM-n such music as millionaires would pay fortunes to command. ' ■ .

About twelve years ago, '.on the occasion of his annual visit, he was carried shoulder high at the head of a procession to the house of his birth, where the governor unveiled a commemorative tablet.

The great violinist confessed to being superstitious, and* would never step on to a. concert platform unless his mascot hung from his watchnhain.. This was a silver yiolin.case, about an mcii long, confcaniisgr a. model of Paganini's favourite instrument, the Gaurnerhis, which is now preserved in the Municipal Palace at Genoa.

Sarasate never married, declaring that he was .wedded to his violin. His musical tastes were wide, but' he will be best remembered by his playing of the solo he wrote himself, which translated all the fire and. passion of the dances of his native land. As a conjposer, Sarasate is, perhaps, best' known by his "Ziepceu-. nerweisen"— an arrangement of gipsy airs with elaborate variation, which has come to be an indisperisible part of -the repertory of all good players.