George Bridgetower (1778 - 1860) was an African-European violin virtuoso and temporary Beethoven friend who premiered the Kreutzer violin sonata with Beethoven in 1803.
The piece was influenced by the development of Viotti bowing, a technique for a sharper attack
on the violin strings that had been raised with a higher bridge for the strings. The technique had
been developed by Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755 – 1824), an Italian violinist whose virtuosity
was famed and whose work as a composer featured a prominent violin and an appealing lyrical tunefulness. Bridgetower had experience with this technique.
Beethoven and Bridgetower had a falling out shortly after the sonata was performed and Beethoven changed the dedication from Bridgetower to Parisian violinist Rudolph Kreutzer. Kreutzer did not like the piece and never performed it.
Referring to Beethoven's composition, Leo Tolstoy's novella The Kreutzer Sonata was first published in 1889. That novella was adapted in various stage and film productions, contributing to Beethoven's composition becoming known to the general public.
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Beethoven and Bridgetower had a falling out shortly after the sonata was performed and Beethoven changed the dedication from Bridgetower to Parisian violinist Rudolph Kreutzer. Kreutzer did not like the piece and never performed it.
Referring to Beethoven's composition, Leo Tolstoy's novella The Kreutzer Sonata was first published in 1889. That novella was adapted in various stage and film productions, contributing to Beethoven's composition becoming known to the general public.
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