The broad ax., 1927-04-23
FAMOUS NEGRO vIOLINIsT
preston News Service)

composer whose uSdlh OSSAtSu J1o'
one hundred years ago and whose
music still lives as perhaps the greatest
ever penned by human hand. has spe-
cial interest for the Negro musician,
due to the fact that associated with
him, both as a friend and as musician,
was the Negro violinist, George Au-
gustus Polgreen Bridgetower, son of
an African father and German or
Polish mother.
Bridgetower made his first public
appearance as a violinist in London at
the age Of 10. He became a great IA
vorite in the English capital and was
long in the service Of the Prince Of
Wales, afterwards George Nv. In
1902 Bridgetower obtained leave of
absence 10 visit his mother at Dresden
and to use the waters Of Teplitz and
Carlsbad, which leave was prolonged
that he might spend few months in
Vienna. His playing in public and pri-
vate at Dresden had secured favorable
letters Of introduction.
This gained him most brilliant re-
ception in the highest musical circles
Of the Austrian capital Beethoven, to
whom he was introduced by Prince
Lichnowsky, readily secured his aid in
the public concert. The date OF this
concert was probably May "a, 1902,
when Bridgetower was about "a years
old. The principal item on this pro-
gram was the now famous "Kreutzer
Sonata" This masterpiece had just
been completed by Beethoven and was
played for the first time at this con-
cert by Bridgetower with the com
poser at the piano.
Ries, the eminent German musician
of this period, writes of this concert
as follows:
THE famous Sonata in A minor, OPP.
AZ, with concertante violin, dedicated
to Rudolph Kreutzer in Paris, was
originally composed by Beethoven for
Bridgetower, an English artist Here
things did not go much better (Ries
is wrote for Punto) although large
part of the first Allegro was ready at
an early date, Bridgetower pressed
him greatly because the date of the
concert was at half after four O'Clock
and said: Copy the violin part of the
first Allegro quickly (His ordinary
copyist was otherwise engaged) The
pianoforte part was noted down only
here and there in parts Bridgetower
had TO play the marvelIously beautiful
theme and variations in F from Bee
thoven's manuscript at the concert in
the Augarten at eight o'clock in the
morning because there was no time to
copy it. The final Allegro, however.
was beautifully written, since it orig
inally belonged to the Sonata in A
major COP. 800 which is dedicated to
Gar Alexander. In its place Bee
thoven. thinking it too brilliant for the
A major Sonata, put the variations
which now form the finale"
Bridgetower, when advanced in
years, talking with Mr. Thirlwall about
Beethoven, told him that at the time
the Sonata, Op. AZ, was composed, he
and the composer were constant COM
panions, and that the first copy bore
dedication to him; but before he de-
parted from Vienna they had a quar-
rel about a girl, and Beethoven then
dedicated the work to Rudolph Kreut-
ger.
The subscriptions for the concert
amounted to 1140 forms and the list
Of patrons was headed BY the English
envoy.
Bridgetower's father was known in
England as the african Prince"
How the violinist's father got to Biala
in Poland, where Bridgetower was
born or whether his mother was a
German or Pole, remains mystery
which has not been cleared up.
A letter written BY Abt Vogler dated
London, June 8. 1900, says: Last
wednesday, June 2, | attended con-
cert IN Hanover Square, where two
young heroes contested with each
other on the violin. The two PLAYED
concertos alternately and both won the
warmest praise One of the violinists
was Clement Of Vienna, eight and one
half, and the other Bridgetower of AT
RIGA, ten years Of age"
During Bridgetower's residence IN
England he played before George III
and his court at Windsor Castle. The
passport issued tn hin, -, N;ax,,. f.