Urstudien (Basic Studies) for Violin by Carl Flesch
Published by Carl Fischer
Hungarian violinist Carl Flesch (1873-1944) was a student of Jakob Grun in Vienna and Martin Pierre Marsick in Paris, going on to be a well-regarded chamber music performer and soloist. He was also one of the most highly sought-after violin teachers of his day, known for his sensitive, analytical approach that emphasized artistry over virtuosity. His students have included Ivry Gitlis, Ida Haendel, Eric Rosenblith, Max Rostal, and Roman Totenberg. Among Flesch's many method publications still used today are ''Basic Studies for Violin'' (1911), ''The Art of Violin Playing'' (1923-28), and ''The Problem of Tone Production in Violin Playing'' (1931).
Flesch's first major publication was "Basic Studies for Violin" (1911), which was revolutionary in that it did away with the technically complex, advanced exercises designed for developing virtuosos that dominated violin pedagogy of the time. Instead, he presents exercises intended for amateurs, orchestral musicians, and teachers, or any other musician with little time available for practice--exercises that condense the basic and essential technical needs of violin playing into a lean daily regiment, able to be completed within the space of 30 to 60 minutes. Includes scales, intervallic and stretching exercises for the left hand, and articulation and string crossing exercises for the right hand. Grades 4-6.
