The Violinist’s Violinist: 10 Things Aspiring Musicians Should Know About Fritz Kreisler

Fritz Kreisler, a master of the violin repertoire, crafted compositions that are benchmarks for violinists. He is considered one of the greatest violinists of all time, captivating audiences with his artistry and technique. Kreisler’s performances were noted for expressive phrasing and a rich, lyrical tone. He also composed several works, setting a standard for violinists to aspire to, but he also lived a very interesting life. Here are ten things you should know about Fritz Kreisler.

1. He Started With a Modified Cigar Box

Fritz Kreisler’s violin career had humble origins. He was inspired to play the violin by the famous psychiatrist Dr. Sigmund Freud, who was a friend of the family and a violinist. Whenever Freud visited, he would play the violin. Young Kreisler was captivated by Freud’s playing, which sparked his interest in music. He would mimic Freud’s movements using a makeshift violin fashioned from a cigar box. 

2. He Was a Child Prodigy

Fritz Kreisler demonstrated exceptional talent from a young age. At four, he began studying violin with his father. He was accepted into the Vienna Conservatory at the age of seven, becoming the youngest pupil in the institution’s history, as the minimum age for students was ten before his admission. While at the conservatory, Kreisler earned the school’s highest honor, the Gold Medal award, beating other competitors who were several years older. Proving to be virtuosic on the violin, Kreisler’s formal training in music stopped at the age of 12.

3. He Had a Distinctive Style

Fritz Kreisler developed a unique style, including his signature vibrato that added warmth and a lyrical quality to his playing. Kreisler also was an innovator, often adding improvisational embellishments to existing works for unique performances. Combined with his mastery of traditional techniques, Kreisler’s energetic and expressive approach to composing can be seen firsthand in Kriesler’s “Alt-Wiener Tanzweisen (Old Viennese Melodies)”, a suite of three pieces for the violin and piano. Two of the pieces, “Liebesfreud (Love’s Joy)” and “Liebesleid (Love’s Sorrow),” were eventually transcribed for the piano and recorded by Russian composer, pianist, and conductor, Sergei Rachmaninoff. 

4. He Was an Excellent Pianist

Fritz Kreisler was a man of many talents. In addition to being a violinist and composer, he also was an accomplished pianist. He taught himself to play so well that Polish composer Ignacy Jan Paderewski was believed to have said, “I'd be starving if Kreisler had taken up the piano. How beautifully he plays." Many composers are also masters of the piano, and Kreisler was no exception. Fritz also arranged music by other composers for concert performances, such as Tchaikovsky’s “Andante Cantabile” from String Quartet No. 1, Op. 11.

5. He Had an “Ear” for War

Fritz Kreisler wasn’t just a brilliant musician, but he was also a prolific composer with an ear for melody. He also had a finely tuned sense of hearing that served him and his fellow Austrian soldiers during World War I. Serving as a captain, Kreisler was able to recognize small differences in sound between Austrian artillery and that of their Russian opponents. He was also able to correctly gauge their enemy’s location based on variations in the sound of artillery. You can only imagine how such auditory skills manifested in Fritz Kreisler songs and performances.    

6. He Was an Expert Forger

Throughout his career, Fritz Kreisler would include pieces that were presented as discovered works from other composers such as Antonio Vivaldi and Gaetano Pugnani. In reality, these pieces were Kreislder’s original compositions, which often featured elements that mimicked the style of other great composers. These musical forgeries or musical hoaxes were quite common in Kreisler’s career, earning him a reputation as a prolific and expert hoaxer. To successfully pull these off, Fritz Kreisler had to study the styles of other great musical minds to convince audiences that his compositions were written by others.

7. He Was a Prolific Creator

Fritz Kreisler created over 150 works, including original compositions and new arrangements of existing works. He incorporated Viennese themes, Eastern modes, and harmonic cadenzas into his pieces, crafting a rich tapestry of sound that has inspired countless musicians and composers. Kreisler was a complete artist, often exposing audiences to the work of lesser-known composers. 

8. He Took a Break From Music

Fritz Kreisler’s violin performances went stateside in the late 1880s, starting in New York City. He would tour the rest of the country for two years before returning to Austria to pursue playing with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He was rejected by the orchestra’s lead violin player or concertmaster. Kreisler left music and studied medicine. He also served in the army for a time. Kreisler wouldn’t return to music until 1899, when he performed with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

9. He Owned Several Antique Violins

While it’s not uncommon for virtuosos to have several instruments, Fritz Kreisler owned several antique violins made by Italian luthiers such as Pietro Guarneri, Giuseppe Guarneri, Carlo Bergonzi, and Antonio Stradivari. You may recognize the name “Stradivari” as Stradivarius stringed instruments are some of the most expensive instruments ever made. If you ever visit the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, you may see the Giuseppe Guarneri violin that Kreisler donated in 1952.

10. He Had a Multifaceted Career

Fritz Kreisler’s gifts extended beyond classical music. He composed several operettas, some of which were included in Broadway shows. Kreisler also provided the score for the 1936 film, “The King Steps Out,” a musical comedy based on the early years of Empress Elisabeth of Austria and her relationship with Emperor Franz Joseph I. Fritz Kreisler was an author. In 1915, he wrote “Four Weeks in the Trenches: The War Story of a Violinist,” the recount of his days serving in the Austrian army during World War I. 

The Enduring Legacy of Fritz Kreisler

Fritz Kreisler was a musical innovator and cultural icon. While his compositions provide a comprehensive journey through violin mastery, his life and artistry also inspire musicians and fans from all walks of life. Whether performing for royalty, captivating concert audiences, or providing entertainment for Broadway fans, Fritz Kreisler married technical mastery to passionate playing, breathing life into every note. Visit Musicnotes to build and expand your digital music collection, featuring the work of Kreisler and other great musical minds.