Concert Piece in G minor Violin Concerto No.2

Abstract

Tor Aulin was one of the most important Swedish musicians at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries, and his name has perhaps mostly been remembered for his work as a quartet player and conductor. Despite the undeniable qualities that they posses, his own compositions have fallen into oblivion. In their time they attracted international attention and were issued by continental publishers; many of the finest violinists of the era made recordings of them. Aulin grew up in a musical family, in which chamber music was nurtured in particular. His father, who died when tor was only three, was a lecturer in Greek and a devoted violist, whilst his mother was a fine pianist who had in her youth entertained ambitions of becoming a singer. One of his uncles was also a keen quartet player, an aunt was a piano teacher and his sister valborg, six years his senior, was to become an eminent pianist and composer. Tor began to take violin lessons when he was seven, and at the age of 11 was admitted to the Stockholm Conservatory where he was taught by Johan Lindgren. Aulin made his first public appearance in the summer of 1880, together with his sister at a concert in Söderköping. The following year he became a member of Bernhard Fexer’s orchestra, which was responsible for the musical entr´actes at Stockholm´s Royal Dramatic theatre during the winter seasons and at the Djurgården Theatre in the summer, and he also started to turn to chamber music. He had the opportunity to perform for the renowned French violinist ÉMILE Sauret, who made a guest appearance in Stockholm in 883, and this led to Aulin becoming Sauret´s pupil in Berlin (1884-86). While in Berlin, he also studied composition under Philipp Scharwenka. After returning to Sweden, Aulin enjoyed success as a soloist the Concerto in E minor by Vieuxtemps, In 1887 he founded his own string quartet - the first permanent string quartet in Sweden, and an ensemble which was soom to achieve distinction – and in 1889 he became the leader of the Royal Court orchestra (Kumgl. hovkapellet), having previously held a similar position in Andreas Hallen´s Orchestra in the so-called Svea Hall (Sveasalen)