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.
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 the amateurs.
Yet, in essence his ideas did not exclude having a mission. On the contrary.
His creation of the 'Music Plus!' series' and the 'Young Violinist's
Edition' do add to this premise.
'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 and the pedagogues taught alternating in New York and Paris.
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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).
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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
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Yehudi
Menuhin recorded the Violin Concerto of Jean Sibelius (His Master's
Voice ALP 1350) at the time when he endorsed the Theodore and
Alic Pashkus Remington Series.
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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)
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The
book containing the scores of the 3rd Volume
was printed in Germany.
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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 Schulhoff, 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 by Stephen (Steven) Staryk,
the Canadian violinist, for example, with Etudes by Fiorillo,
Kreutzer, Mazas 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 Wohlfahrt, Rode, and 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.
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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