Heifetz: Violin Encores (Bach, Falla, Arensky, Mozart, et al.) - FALP 248 (ED1)

$

47

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This beautiful and very rare LP from La Voix de son Maitre (FALP 248, heavy flat French pressing red/silver label, mono – no stereo version exists) entitled ‘Heifetz Encores’ features a peerless collection of 15 violin sweetmeats, many in transcriptions made by the great violinist himself. Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, CA with pianist Emanuel Bay, this is one of the great violin encore LPs. 

Unlike so many of today’s encore albums, which seldom stray beyond Kreisler’s popular confections, this remarkable compilation offers a portal into a bygone era of virtuoso elegance, offering an intriguing array of now forgotten violin gems, played with incomparable grace and style.

The sheer inventiveness of Heifez’s arrangement, to this listener at least, is quite marvelous. Indeed, all of Heifetz’s transcriptions are of supreme quality – stunning!

Included are the following works, all recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood in October 1946:

Side 1

Claude Debussy (arr. Arthur Hartmann): Il pleure dans mon coeur, from Ariettes oubilées

J.S. Bach (arr. Jascha Heifetz): Gavottes I & II, from the English Suite No. 6 in D minor BWV 811

Manuel de Falla (arr. Paul Kochanski): Pantomime, from El amor brujo

Felix Mendelssohn (arr. Jascha Heifetz), Scherzo, from the Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor Op. 49

Anton Arensky (arr. Jascha Heifetz): Tempo di Valse, from the Violin Concerto in A minor Op. 54

Joaquin Nin (arr. Claude Levy): Cantilena Asturiana

Darius Milhaud (arr. Claude Lévy): Corcovado, No. 7 from Saudades do Brazil

Ludwig van Beethoven (arr. Jascha Heifetz) German Dance No. 6 in G Major, from 12 German Dances WoO 8

Poldowski* (arr. Jascha Heifetz): Tango

* pseudonym of Belgian-born British composer and pianist Régina Wieniawski

Side 2

Leopold Godowsky (arr. Jascha Heifetz): Alt Wien, No. 11 from Triakontameron

Felix Mendelssohn (arr. Jascha Heifetz): “Sweet Remembrance” · Andante con moto in E Major, No. 1 from Songs without Words Op. 19

Claude Debussy (arr. Léon Roques): La plus que lente

Franz Schubert (arr. August Wilhelmj): Ave Maria, No. 6 from Ellens Gesang III D. 839

Felix Mendelssohn (arr. Joseph Achron, ed. Jascha Heifetz): "Auf Flügen des Gesanges" ("On Wings of Song"), No. 2 from Songs without Words Op. 34

W.A. Mozart (arr. Jascha Heifetz): Minuet, from the Divertimento No. 17 in D Major K. 334

Only a few of these works are programmed by the current crop of jet-set virtuosi, which is a pity given their true musical substance and delightful old-world charm. For instance, Poldowsky was the pen-name used by Wieniawski’s daughter Régine, a composer and pianist in her own right, who would later become Lady Dean Paul. For all those who treasure the art of the violin, this disc will prove richly rewarding.

There is tremendous personality and imagination behind the playing, with Heifetz on his most dazzling, and smiling, form. An essential part of any violin collection – wonderful!

There are excellent liner notes by Pierre Drouin on the reverse side of the jacket, printed in French only. The front cover photo of Heifetz is uncredited.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the jacket is GOOD. The cover has a “marbled” pattern of discoloration to it. There is also creasing, mild ringwear, and a small bit of writing to the rear panel. However, there are no seamsplits or other defects and the album remains solid and presentation worthy – overall, still a quite decent copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Though there is some occasional light surface noise, in general the playback is quite fine. However, those wanting a flawless or near-MINT copy are kindly advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this rates as an excellent collector's copy.

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