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.
'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.
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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
Alice 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.
(From the
SoundFountain Archive)
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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 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.
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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