does anyone know of a musician who's a virtuoso on more than 1 instrument

[mpd210]

I think if children were brought up learning more than 1 instrument we'd see more people who mastered more than one instrument. Imagine if Horowitz could also play the violin as Heiftz

[etudes]

i am not sure about this but someone told me that Rostropovich can play very very good piano
do we count orchestra as instrument?? so that many musicians that can play their own instruments well...and conduct well.

[thalbergmad]

Although my memory is fading with age, I think Bauer was a virtuoso on the violin before switching to the piano.

I am virtuoso on the 4 and 5 string banjo.

[ahinton]

I think if children were brought up learning more than 1 instrument we'd see more people who mastered more than one instrument. Imagine if Horowitz could also play the violin as Heiftz

I fear that this very thing was indeed imagined - at least by those who believed that a certain story circulated some years ago was actually true (though, much as I'd like it to have been, I suspect that it was merely apocryphal). Late in both the lives of the above, Heifetz and Horowitz were (supposedly) approached by RCA to record the complete sonatas for violin and piano by Beethoven. Horowitz was apparently delighted at the prospect. Heifetz, however, put the kiss of death on it by saying that he felt that Horowitz's violin playing was not up to such a project.

That said, legend (and maybe in this instance not so fatuous a legend as the above might have been) has it that, in the days after Heifetz had decided to hang up his public bow, he played the piano parts from some of Beethoven's violin sonatas from memory in his masterclasses.

Rostropovich was indeed more than a merely capable pianist (I write "was" only because I am not aware that he still plays that instrument publicly). Enescu wasn't just a violinist. There may well be some other interesting examples of the kind of performer about which this thread asks, although I am inclined nevertheless to think that "few and far between" probably remains the order of the day here...

Best,

Alistair

[BoliverAllmon]

I know a guy named Tom Sicard. He actually got a job with the Houston Symphony playing french horn right out of high-school. apparently the symphony basically waited until he got out of high school to fill the position so as to make sure he got the job. He is now the accompanist at my school, is going to play Rach's 2nd with the local orchestra, is the bass section leader in the choir at his church (can't remember the name, but it  is the one where former Pres bush goes to church. massive church). He also plays some mean guitar.

jack of all trades.

[etudes]

mozart was a virtuoso at both clavier and violin

[pianorama]

mozart was a virtuoso at both clavier and violin

What's a clavier? And don't forget piano! (duh)

[Waldszenen]

Clavier (Klavier) is German for "keyboard" - generic term used for piano, harpsichord and clavichord in the 17th and 18th centuries. But not organ.

[sharon_f]

Awadagin Pratt received performer's certificates in piano and violin from Peabody. He also has a graduate performance diploma in conducting.

[tompilk]

i think im a virtuoso at the air guitar...
Tom

[quantum]

I believe Naida Cole has her ARCT in both piano and flute. 

[mikey6]

James Morrison plays Trumpet (D'uh!), trombone, saxophone and piano all rather virtuosically (sometimes 2 at once).  Most of the time he still sounds like he's playing a trumpet but he has played all of these publically rather succesfully.  Don Burrows plays pretty much all the woodwind family.
Sorry, these are both jazz players (and all Ozzies , but they're all I can think of.

[rohansahai]

strange that nobody mentioned it so far ...INGOLF WUNDER !

[etudes]

strange that nobody mentioned it so far ...INGOLF WUNDER !

we know how good he is on piano
but i dont know how good is he on violin

[canucks13]

I think Yundi Li is a virtuoso accordion player

...seriously.

[Bob]

I think it would be more common in jazz than classical.  I have seen many that play an instrument and piano or sing.  At least professionally, but that's not necessarily virtuosic.

[brewtality]

Eddie Van Halen. 

[notturno]

Shawn Lane played the piano and drums well and was a virtuoso on the guitar.

[Bob]

They say Hindemith could play any instrument and could play his own sonatas on those instruments.  I'm not sure I believe that, but I suppose it's possible.  How could he keep his playing chops up for everything?  All the time?

[ahinton]

I don't believe that anyone has yet mentioned the Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz, best known as a violinist with several violin concerti and other string works to her credit, who also gave the première of her own piano concerto.

Best,

Alistair