Plaintes arabes

Hungarian composer and violinist Jenö Hubay, born Eugen Huber, received his musical training in Budapest and made his concert début with Viotti’s Violin Concerto No. 22 in A minor. He spent three years in Berlin, where he studied violin with Joseph Joachim. After his return he met Franz Liszt, who recommended that he travel to Paris. In that city he was a welcome guest at musical salons; he also formed a friendship with Henri Vieuxtemps. Hubay taught groups of violin students first in Brussels, then for a long time in Budapest. For twenty-five years he toured Europe as a virtuoso violinist, settling in Switzerland for a while before returning to Budapest for the rest of his life. His chamber compositions include a series of little pieces very probably written for his own use at musical salons, along with character pieces reminiscent of his Hungarian homeland and exotic pieces such as Plaintes arabes (Arabian Lament), an expressive and mournful lament on the violin. Plate no. 23388, published in 1882.