- Born:
- April 22, 1916, New York, New York, U.S.
- Died:
- March 12, 1999, Berlin, Germany (aged 82)
Yehudi Menuhin, Lord Menuhin of Stoke dâAbernon
-
Who was Yehudi Menuhin?
Yehudi Menuhin, born in New York City on April 22, 1916, and who died in Berlin on March 12, 1999, was a celebrated violin virtuoso of the 20th century. He began studying violin at age four and gained recognition early in life, particularly after his performance of Felix Mendelssohnâs Violin Concerto at age seven. He studied under Georges Enesco in Paris, who greatly shaped Menuhin's playing style and remained a friend throughout his life.
Menuhin broadened his musical endeavors to conducting and led many major world orchestras. He founded the Yehudi Menuhin School in 1963 for musically gifted children at Stoke dâAbernon, Surrey. Knighted in 1965, he later became a British citizen in 1985. He was granted the Order of Merit in 1987 and was made a life peer in 1993.
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What musical instrument did Yehudi Menuhin play?
Yehudi Menuhin, Lord Menuhin of Stoke dâAbernon, was one of the 20th century's foremost violin virtuosos. He began studying violin at age four and made a name for himself at age seven with his performance of Felix Mendelssohnâs Violin Concerto.
Although Menuhin retired from playing the violin in the 1990s to focus on conducting, he left a lasting impact as a musician, educator, and advocate for various causes.
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What made him a famous musician?
Yehudi Menuhin, a leading violin virtuoso of the 20th century, gained fame as a musician from a young age. His performance of Felix Mendelssohnâs Violin Concerto at age seven in San Francisco caused a sensation. Critics and audiences alike admired Menuhin for both his technical proficiency and musical interpretation as he toured widely as a teenager. Later in his career, he gained note for introducing rarely performed and new music into his concerts, such as that by composer BĂ©la BartĂłk. He also widened his musical scope, began conducting, and conducted most of the major world orchestras.
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In what ways did Menuhin contribute to music besides performing?
Yehudi Menuhin was a violin virtuoso who also contributed to music as a conductor, educator, and writer. He introduced rarely performed and new music into his concerts, such as that by BĂ©la BartĂłk, and he commissioned BartĂłkâs Sonata for Solo Violin. Menuhin opened the Yehudi Menuhin School in 1963 for musically gifted children. He presided over annual music festivals in Gstaad, Switzerland; and Bath and Windsor, England. Additionally, Menuhin wrote a collection of essays, Theme and Variations (1972); works for musical instruction, Violin: Six Lessons (1972) and Violin and Viola (1976); The Music of Man (1979); and an autobiography, Unfinished Journey (1977).
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What important awards or honors did Menuhin receive during his life?
Yehudi Menuhin received several significant awards and honors throughout his life. In 1965, he was granted knighthood. However, he did not receive the title until 1985, when he became a British citizen. In 1987, Menuhin received the Order of Merit, and in 1993, he was made a life peer.
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How did Yehudi Menuhin influence music and culture around the world?
Yehudi Menuhin, a leading violin virtuoso of the 20th century, significantly impacted music and culture globally. He championed rarely performed and new music, such as that of BĂ©la BartĂłk, even commissioning BartĂłk's Sonata for Solo Violin. Menuhin broadened his musical scope into conducting and presided over annual music festivals in Gstaad, Bath, and Windsor.
Menuhin also performed duets with Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar and ventured into jazz with StĂšphane Grappelli, demonstrating his diverse musical interests. He was involved in causes promoting environmental issues and social justice and was a prolific writer, publishing books such as Theme and Variations and The Music of Man.
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Yehudi Menuhin, Lord Menuhin of Stoke dâAbernon (born April 22, 1916, New York, New York, U.S.âdied March 12, 1999, Berlin, Germany) was one of the leading violin virtuosos of the 20th century.
Menuhin grew up in San Francisco, where he studied violin from age four and where his performance of Felix Mendelssohnâs Violin Concerto at age seven caused a sensation. He studied in Paris under the violinist and composer Georges Enesco, who deeply influenced his playing style and who remained a lifelong friend. As a teenager he toured widely, winning admiration both for his technical proficiency and for his musical interpretation. (Later in Menuhinâs concert career, critics complained of technical problems with his playing; even so, he was always regarded as being a highly interpretive musician who played with great feeling.) In 1936 he retired from performing for 18 months of study, then resumed concert activity. During World War II Menuhin performed some 500 concerts for Allied troops, and in 1945 he and composer Benjamin Britten went to Germany to perform a series of concerts, including several concerts given at Bergen-Belsen for recently liberated inmates of that concentration camp.
Menuhin gained note for introducing into his concerts rarely performed and new music, such as that by composer BĂ©la BartĂłk. He commissioned BartĂłkâs Sonata for Solo Violin. He moved to London in 1959 and in 1963 opened the Yehudi Menuhin School for musically gifted children at Stoke dâAbernon, Surrey. Also during the 1960s, Menuhin widened his musical scope and began conducting, going on to conduct most of the major world orchestras. In addition, he presided over the annual music festivals at Gstaad, Switzerland (from 1957); and Bath (1959â68) and Windsor (1969â72), England. In 1966 at Bath and in 1967 at the United Nations, Menuhin performed duets with the noted Indian sitarist and composer Ravi Shankar, who composed the solo piece Prabhati for him. He also ventured into the jazz genre with recordings made with jazz violinist StĂ©phane Grappelli. By the 1990s Menuhin had retired from playing violin and was conducting exclusively.
In 1965 Menuhin was granted knighthood, but he did not receive the title until 1985, when he became a British citizen. He received the Order of Merit in 1987 and was made a life peer in 1993.
He was involved with numerous causes promoting environmental issues and social justice, in addition to being a prolific writer. His publications include a collection of essays, Theme and Variations (1972); works for musical instruction, Violin: Six Lessons (1972) and Violin and Viola (1976; with William Primrose and Denis Stevens); The Music of Man (1979; with Curtis W. Davis); and an autobiography, Unfinished Journey (1977; released with four additional chapters in 1997 as Unfinished Journey: Twenty Years Later).