WIENIAWSKI, HENRYK. (1835-1880). Polish violin virtuoso and composer. AMusQS. (“Hr. Wieniawski”). ½p. Oblong Large 4to. Boston, October 16, 1872. Ten measures from his “Prelude,” the sixth study in his L’École moderne, 10 Études-Caprices, Op. 10. Humorously inscribed in French, “Offered as a meager souvenir of a big violinist…” and flamboyantly signed. On the verso is a two-measure quotation from Chopin’s Piano Concerto in F Minor in the hand of Hungarian pianist and composer RAFAEL JOSEFFY (1852-1915). 1p. Oblong Large 4to. Boston March 11, 1880. Inscribed in German with “friendly remembrance…” Joseffy made his New York Philharmonic debut performing this same work on February 21, 1880.

Wieniawski left Poland after his first public performance at the age of seven. Through the efforts of his supporters he was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire, despite rules that would have prevented an acceptance due to his age and nationality. Remarkably, by the age of 11, Wieniawski became the youngest graduate in the Conservatoire’s history. He performed around the world and was compared to the great Paganini and, like Paganini, Wieniawski’s compositions (many now lost) highlighted his virtuosic talent. Of his numerous and important violin compositions, his 1854 L’École moderne, 10 Études-Caprices, Op. 10, is considered almost as difficult as the works of Paganini. Our quotation was penned during Wieniawski’s eight-month American tour with Anton Rubinstein, which encompassed 215 concerts in 60 eastern cities. “Rubinstein was physically and mentally broken by this tyranny of six to seven concerts per week. Wieniawski, on the other hand, stayed on a whole extra year of his own, giving concerts in California, in other western states and in Mexico. He was particularly warmly received in California. To show his gratitude to the Californian audiences he wrote and dedicated them a new composition – Souvenir de San Francisco, based on American song motifs,” (“Henryk Wieniawski 1835-1880: Life and Creation,” Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society of Poznan website, www.wieniawski.com/life_and_creation.html). The International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition, created in his honor, is among the most prestigious prizes for violinists.

Joseffy studied piano under Ignaz Moscheles, Carl Tausig and Franz Liszt before moving to the United States in 1879, where he made his debut playing concertos of Liszt and Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849). He toured extensively throughout the United States and composed his own works but is perhaps best known for his 15-volume edition of Chopin’s works published by G. Schirmer as well as studies of other composers.

Written on the recto and verso of a slightly age-toned album page with some staining and wear. With small photographs of each composer pasted in the margin of each page as well as some marginal pencil notes and numberings. In very good condition and rare.