Arthur Hartmann, an American of Hungarian descent was a brilliant violinist who attracted

rave reviews throughout his life as soloist and leader of the Hartmann Quartet.

Emotionally exuberant and vital, his miniatures are infused with the specific harmonic and

rhythmic intonations of Hungarian folklore and skilfully exploit the colours of the different

violin strings.

His works were performed by artists of the calibre of Heifetz, Menuhin, Kreisler and

Thibaud.

A child prodigy at age 11 he gave recitals in Europe, meeting and charming Sir Charles Hallé, Saint-Saens, Hans Richter, Paderewski, Benjamin Godard and many others.

Hartmann’s sympathetic and subtle transcriptions, particularly of Debussy, won the composer’s approval and are still in circulation today.

A pupil of the legendary virtuoso Eugene Ysaÿe, Hartmann was renowned for his interpretation of Bach’s Chaconne for solo violin.

This is the first recording of any of Hartmann’s Kreisler-like salon miniatures for violin and piano which, like Elgar’s violin miniatures, speak immediately to the listener with their easy tunefulness.