Playing violin is usually a skill learned in childhood days and is further pursued as a professional career choice. It requires years of utter dedication and daily practice to become the very best. Discovering one’s way around all the codes and strings and learning the right spots to press, the exact pressure to apply to achieve the perfect sound that is required, and also the right degree of tightness are the common challenging parameters among violinists. That is the reason many end up singing music or playing the piano or something simpler. The beauty of the music created by stringed instruments is simply exceptional.
From across the world, many artists have impressed the fans by playing stringed instruments, especially violinists. Some of these have been an inspiration for aspiring musicians and their music is pitch perfect. Time to look at the best iconic violin players of all time from around the globe. Most of these kicked off their violin training at a young age and that is why they were able to unleash their creativity at the top level, building their name and leaving a melodious mark in the hearts of fans. Let’s have a look at the top eight iconic violin players of all time.
Niccolo Paganini (1782 – 1840)
Paganini absolutely was a legend in the streets of Italy and made his name around the globe. He played for more than 10 hours daily and played to some of the most esteemed crowds in the world. Although his career was affected by betting and drinking issues, he never lost sight of stringed instruments and remains one of the best celebrated violinists of classical music. This exceptional violinist’s composition, 24 Caprices for Solo Violin Op.1 are still referred with thankfulness for their complexity; and he is appreciated for popularising a large number of the playing techniques that are standard today.
Itzhak Perlman (1945 -)
Definitely, Itzhak Perlman is one of the most complete classical violinists. With the badge of a superstar in his name, this composer and musician are popular every year for his artistic work. His amazing control of the instrument and unique melodic expressions are famous across the globe and have been impressing the audience from the childhood days. He has shown up with the best Orchestras on the planet, been crowned with various awards by so many musical and non-musical associations, and keeps on electrifying the place wherever he performs.
Mark O’Connor (1961 -)
Mark O’Connor is recognized for being a multi genre violinist. He is appreciated incredibly for the two of his bluegrass and classical playing, just as for his jazz and country playing. He has bagged two Grammys, seven CMA trophies, and seven fiddling titles. To add to the list, he’s additionally won trophies in guitar and mandolin. His solo tracks are famous around the globe with more than 2 million copies sold. Not enough? He is a brilliant composer and his popular “Fiddle Concerto” is a mixture of American fiddle style and classical concerto.
Jascha Heifetz (1901 – 1987)
Jascha Heifetz is surely one of the best, most popular violin players ever. Prior to his death, he was appreciated for his exacting method, and for his wonderful style and tone, all of which have inspired the modern violin style. He recorded a lot of tracks and more than 100 of his tracks are still used to teach violin lessons. George Benard Shaw wrote to him after his debut in London – “If you provoke a jealous God by playing with such superhuman perfection you will die young. I earnestly advise you to play something badly every night before going to bed, instead of saying your prayers. No mortal should presume to play so faultlessly.” That says it all about the beautiful talent of this artist!
Pablo de Sarasate (1844 – 1908)
Pablo de Sarasate, born in Spain, was a much celebrated 19th century violinist whose ability led to his playing out the premiers of many renowned compositions. His own masterpieces are still played till the very date and he is appreciated for his fabulous opera medleys including “Concert Fantasies on Carmen” of 1883. He performed in different nations like the USA, South Africa, and the Far East during his career and was instrumental in assisting to combine Mediterranean tones into classic style music.
Bronislaw Huberman (1882 – 1947)
Huberman is most popular for his establishment of the Palestine Orchestra which helped save Jews from the Holocaust. But before this, he was known as one of the best violinists of his time. He has performed all through Europe since his teenage days, playing out Brahms’ violin concerto in front of the composer and got a lot of appreciation. His music was soulful, heart-touching, and impressed millions of fans across the world.
Stephane Grappelli (1908-1997)
Known as “the grandfather of Jazz violinists”, Stephane Grappelli established the popular band of the Hot Club of France with lead guitarist Django Reinhardt during the 1930s. They were the very first European artists to perform American-based genre, making them super famous among the audience. Both as a team player and an Indie artist, he was respected for his unique skills. In the exact words of Yehudi Menuhin, who recorded with him in 1972, “What a happy man he was himself… He played the violin as a bird flies, his inspiration never failing him.” Stephane Grappelli is a true legend and his music will live forever.
Hilary Hahn (1979 -)
This young and beautiful American musician kicked off her professional career when she was just 12 years old and has been recording classic music from the age of 16. Jennifer Higdon’s violin concerto, composed especially for her, bagged the Pulitzer Prize, and a wide number of awards and trophies that she earned worldwide for her music earned her a spot in iconic violinists of all time. From her 16 official albums, three have earned Grammy awards as well. She even performed with famous music groups like the London Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic and fans just loved her melodious performance.
BONUS: Nathan Mironovich Milstein (1904-1992)
When you spend seven great decades of your life mastering an art so amazing as playing the violin, you are undoubtedly going to win yourself a Grammy Award or two, which would outline your career. He pulled off this achievement in 1975 for his track of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas. The Ukrainian kept on performing even after he turned 80 and quitted after he broke his hand. He was really lucky from the very beginning as at the age of 11, he was learning from the talented Leopold Auer at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. No wonder he went so far with his soulful performances!
So, these were some of the very best and iconic violin players of all time. It is usually tough to decide the best ones as playing Violin is not at all easy and the one who has mastered this art generates some really awesome music. Although, there was something unique and great about these above mentioned artists which made us choose these. All in all, we respect all the violinists across the globe and salute their artistic work. Meanwhile, you can go on and listen to their brilliant musical performances. Have a great melodious day!
