Bohuslav Martinu--Madrigal Stanzas for Violin/Piano #4

[gvans]

Here's something a bit different for PS--a slice of chamber music, this one a piece by Martinu, written for Albert Einstein (the two were professors at Princeton in the 1940's). Einstein, a keen amateur violinist, played chamber music regularly with concert pianist Robert Casadesus.

Comments welcome.

Glenn

[rachfan]

Hi Glenn,

I had never heard this Martinu piece before, so enjoyed becoming acquainted with it here.  The performance was certainly convincing and enjoyable. I knew that Einstein used to play violin with his friend Dr. Albert Schweitzer who was an accomplished organist, but I didn't know about the connection with Robert Casadesus.  Thanks for sharing your video with us here at Piano Street.  

David

[emill]

another bit of history learned today - Einstein, the amateur violinist!

and a  Martinu piece!!   Thanks, it was NICELY played and as rachfan said convincingly played.

btw, are you a medical doctor? (Roy M. Bak)

[gvans]

Thanks, David (rachfan) and emill, for your kind words. Roy (yes, he has a doc day job, like me) plays a mean fiddle, no? Apparently Martinu was circumspect about Einstein's violin playing at the premier performance on campus at Princeton. Also, the composer had a deal: Einstein was supposed to explain his theory of relativity to him in exchange for the piece dedication, but Martinu never could figure it out, even with the physicist's help.

Of course, there is also the recurrent and possibly apocryphal story of someone (Rubenstein? Schnabel? Heifitz? Casadesus?) playing with Einstein, having him lose his place, and complaining, "Albert, can't you count?"

[rachfan]

Hi Glenn,

Yes, Roy is an excellent violinist at that.  You both displayed musicianship and artistry. 

I once read that the aprocryphal comment to Einstein about his inability to count (a rhythmic problem) came from Dr. Schweitzer after they had repeated the measure three times without any improvement on Einstein's part.

Again, a very nice performance.

David