Donald Gabor obviously followed his own bliss as an entrepreneur - and as a music lover, what he most certainly was! Obviously he wanted to attain a high turnover in order to be able to earn a living and to invest in more recordings, and to be able to pay his personnel.
Gabor undeniably knew how to practice usury by releasing the same recordings on different labels and in various couplings, and by creating series for specific target groups.

Yet, in essence, his ideas did not exclude having a mission. On the contrary. His creation of the 'Music Plus!' series' do add to this premise. In the case of the Young Violinist's Edition his target group consisted of the many students in colleges, universities and schools of music, and the many youngsters studying with their private teachers, and of course the many amateurs. For the Young Violinists Gabor did not use existing material, but specific recordings were made.

Theodore Pashkus and Felix Guenther edited numerous Violin Pieces for all levels of skill. (From the SoundFountain Archive)

For that Gabor asked world famous pedagogues Theodore and Alice Pashkus (who were living in New York at the time) to set up and supervise a special series of instructional and inspirational recordings for young and aspiring violinists in accordance with the teachings they received.

The cover of the releases in this series says about Theodore and Alice Pashkus:

'All over the world' is obviously a key-phrase. Gabor had registered the series as the covers indicate TRADEMARK. And of course the method was the unique property of the pedagogues. One should not forget the intrinsic value, and the educational and inspirational importance of this project.
The series was devised in 1953 and took some time for preparation. The first releases were issued by the end of 1955. Laszlo Halasz was recording director.

The pedagogues taught alternating in New York and Paris. Numerous are their travels between America and Europe. The couple finally ended up in Vienna where Theodore Pashkus taught at the Vienna Conservatory (Konservatorium Wien). Research revealed that the year of birth of Theodore was either 1903 or 1905. He taught until 1970. Alice was born on February 21, 1911. Although she became a US citizen, she also went to Vienna where she taught until 1972. If these are also the dates of their respective deaths is not sure.

Remington Long Playing recording "Young Violinist's Editions, YV-3 , Series 1, Volume 3 ": Jan Shermont (violin) accompanied by Otto Schulhof (piano). They play three student concertinos for violin and piano (by Accolay, Seitz, and Ortmans).

The series were recommended by famous French violinist Jacques Thibaud and by the even famous American violinist Yehudi Menuhin.

 

Yehudi Menuhin himself had profited from the instructions of the violin pedagogues when he was at an inspirational low in the years after the war, despite the many acclaimed performances in England and on the European

Yehudi Menuhin recorded the Violin Concerto of Jean Sibelius (His Master's Voice ALP 1350) at the time when he endorsed the Theodore and Alice Pashkus Remington Series.

continent, among others with Wilhelm Furtwangler and Ferenc Fricsay in West Berlin.

Music for Millions present "Young Violinist's Edition" and "Young Violinist's Recording". Each Volume consisted of::

1. The complete violin and piano parts.
2. "Young Violinist's Practice Guide".
3. Complete recording for Violin and Piano
4. Complete recording of Piano accompaniment alone with faintlyindicated violin part.

The Young Violinist's Series:

YV-1:
1. Concerto No. 23 in G Major (Viotti)

YV-2:
2. Scène de Ballet Op. 100 (De Bériot)
3. Hejre Kati (Scène de la Csardas) (Hubay)
4. Cavatina (Raff)

The book containing the scores of the 3rd Volume was printed in Germany. (From the SoundFountain Archive)

YV-3
5. Concertino No.1 in a minor (Accolay)
6. Concertino Op. 22 in D Major (Seitz)
7. Concertino No.1 in a minor (Ortmans)

Other works were released on subsequent records:
8. Concertino No.9 in a minor (De Bériot)
9. Concerto No.13 in D Major (Kreutzer)
10. Concerto No.8 in e minor (Rode)
11. Concertino No.2 in G Major (Huber)
12. The Bee (Schubert)
13. Kuyswiak (Mazurka) (Wieniawski)
14. Ballade et Polonaise (Vieuxtemps)

On VolumeYV-9 figures "Zigeunerweisen" - Gypsy Airs (De Sarasate) played by Jan Shermont, violin and Otto Schulhof, piano.

The higher the volume number the greater the difficulty. Gabor's Series of the method of Theodore and Alice Pashkus differed from the Music Minus One-series and was far more elaborate as the pedagogues gave special preparatory exercises to be able to study the respective works. They must have guided many students to greater skill and insight.
The Remington Series were very important at the time when they were produced, despite the low quality of manufacture, and they certainly have helped many a student.

Mrs. Patricia Jaeger (who provided images of the cover and the list of Young Violinist Editions) adds:

Recorded teaching material is very important for students. There is a wonderful LP recording "Every Violinist's Guide" by Stephen (Steven) Staryk, the Canadian violinist, for example, with Etudes by Frederico Fiorillo (Etude pour le violon formant 36 caprices), Rodolphe Kreutzer (40 Etudes ou caprices pour le violon), Jacques Féréol Mazas (courses for violin and alto), and others; he plays these at an incredibly fast tempo that is an inspiration to us all! There are also cassettes produced by Solo Plus, with Etudes for violin and viola by Franz Wohlfahrt, Jacques Pierre Joseph Rode, and Bartolomeo Campagnoli; the violinist is Harry Bluestone. Mel Bay company in Pacific, Missouri, USA, produced those. The advanced concert repertoire of the violin is extensively recorded by artists worldwide; but it is the etudes and small classics that a student needs to master, before he/she can attempt the great works. If there is going to be another generation of fine string players, there needs to be a tool easily used by families in the home, such as a cassette or CD, to inspire the student to play these core studies and concertinos to a fine standard of excellence. I am sure I speak for many teachers of the violin who wish the student had this! kind of tool. Perhaps some entrepreneur will take the challenge and begin to issue once more, excellent student-oriented recordings.

Note: Patricia Jaeger is a violin teacher from Seattle, Washington, USA. As a student-violinist in her twenties she was able to play at an advanced level, and gave solo recitals in the US and in Europe. She is over 70 now and has been teaching violin and viola for more than 54 years.

Rudolf A.Bruil - June 10th, 2003