Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) was an Austrian violin virtuoso reknowned for his ever present vibrato and his distinctive style of performance. A child prodigy, Kreisler received training at the Vienna Conservatory and the Paris Conservatory. He made a solo tour of the United States at the age of fourteen and upon his return to Austria, he took a leave of musical pursuits and studied art and medicine. After schooling in Austria and Italy and also serving as a military officer, he returned to the concert stage in 1899.
During the early years of his career, Kreisler traveled to all of the cultural centers of Europe and Russia performing violin works by the master composers. He gave the premiere performance of Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto in many countries.
Later, he relocated to the United States of America, occasionally returning to Europe to perform. His later appearances were solo events on which he dazzled audiences with his spectacular skill and his flamboyant style. These programs often included his own highly technical compositions. His works have significantly influenced the repertoire of string players, becoming popular as encore pieces.
Scott Hartman received his BM and MM degrees from the Eastman School of Music and began his career by joining the Empire Brass Quintet and the Boston University faculty in 1984. As a trombone soloist and with his various chamber ensembles, Scott has taught and played concerts in all fifty United States and throughout the world. Mr. Hartman presently performs and records with Proteus7, the Millennium Brass, the Brass Band of Battle Creek and the trombone quartet – Four of a Kind.
Scott heads the trombone departments of Yale University and Boston University. At the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Mr. Hartman teaches a two-week workshop for aspiring trombonists. More information concerning Mr. Hartman and his present activities is available at his website – www.slushpump.com
