Do many Americans realize what they owe to Josef Gingold, who after a distinguished career as concertmaster and soloist has now taught several generations of violinists at Indiana University? In addition to teaching some of the stars (whose publicists often prefer to label their charges as Galamian or Heifetz pupils, even when it was Gingold who made musicians out of them) of the solo and chamber-music platforms, America's orchestras benefit mightily from having Gingold pupils populate their violin sections. The Faéré, from a two-LP set on Red Bud that John Wiser praised in Fanfare 8:5, p. 249, is a 1966 concert recording with much tape hiss and audience noise, but is no less lovely for all that: patience and experience are called for and supplied. The Kreisler items, some of which are rarely encountered in recital or on disc, are from a mid-1970s Fidelio LP (I cannot find the Fanfare review). Gingold's rhythms are perhaps not as springy and tight as Kreisler's from the 1920s—this is more like the later Kreisler, when Gingold knew him. The sound here is a bit metallic. While the entire Red Bud set should be transferred to CD, this is a worthy and desirable homage to Josef Gingold.

-- David K. Nelson, FANFARE [9/1989]

The Fauré is a mono recording; the Kreisler pieces are recorded in stereo.