Menuhin was the first violinist to record all six Bach solo violin works in the 1930s, and his interpretations of two of these works on this album are considered among his most satisfying.
Recording & Production
Due to post-war rebuilding challenges in Japan, the shellac used for these recordings was gritty, and cutting machine problems caused severe pitch variations, which have been mitigated by digital technology in this CD reissue.
Cultural Impact
Menuhin's 1951 Japanese tour generated immense excitement, with 13,000 tickets selling in four hours and black market prices reaching five times the original cost.
Composition History
The 'Devil's Trill' Sonata by Giuseppe Tartini, an Italian Baroque violinist, was inspired by a dream of the Devil playing the violin.
Recording & Production
The recordings for this album were made in just two days, unplanned, after Menuhin's arrival in Japan, squeezed between his many concerts.
Performer Biography
Adolph Baller, the pianist on this tour, was interned by the Nazis after the Anschluss in 1938, who broke all his fingers; he later regained mobility and resumed his career.
Historical Context
Yehudi Menuhin's 1951 visit to Japan was one of the first by a Western artist after World War II, carrying political significance as a gesture of reconciliation.
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