Daniel Guilet
Encyclopedia
Daniel Guilet was a French
, and later, American
, classical
violin
ist, best known for founding the Beaux Arts Trio
.
He was born at Rostov-on-Don
in the Russian Empire
and raised in Paris
, where his family moved when he was less than a year old. His original surname was Guilevitch , which he changed when he went to the USA. His teachers at the Conservatoire de Paris
included Georges Enesco and Guillaume Remy. He played in the Calvet String Quartet and as a soloist, and toured France with Maurice Ravel
playing his accompaniments.
He immigrated in 1941, in his forties, to the U.S., and organized, the next year, a string quartet
bearing his own surname. In 1944, he joined the NBC Symphony Orchestra
, under conductor Arturo Toscanini
; Guilet became concertmaster
in 1951, and continued in that position in 1954 when Toscanini retired and the orchestra was renamed the Symphony of the Air.
Also in 1954, he invited cellist Bernard Greenhouse
to join him and Menahem Pressler
, with whom Guilet had previously made recordings, in playing informally -- supposedly, as Greenhouse put it 25 years later, just "to play some Mozart". As it turned out, they named their group the Beaux Arts Trio, and began playing in public at Tanglewood
in 1955. The ensemble built an international reputation, and (at the time of his death 45 years later, and 30 after his retirement) the New York Times described it as still the "most prominent trio" in chamber music
, anywhere.
Guilet retired from performing in 1969, after which he taught at Indiana University
, the Manhattan School of Music
, the Royal Conservatory of Music
in Montreal
, Oklahoma University and Baylor University
. He died following a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 91.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and later, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, best known for founding the Beaux Arts Trio
Beaux Arts Trio
The Beaux Arts Trio was a noted piano trio. They made their debut on July 13, 1955 at the Berkshire Music Festival, known today as the Tanglewood Music Center. Their final American concert was held at Tanglewood on August 21, 2008. It was webcast live and archived on NPR Music...
.
He was born at Rostov-on-Don
Rostov-on-Don
-History:The mouth of the Don River has been of great commercial and cultural importance since the ancient times. It was the site of the Greek colony Tanais, of the Genoese fort Tana, and of the Turkish fortress Azak...
in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and raised in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where his family moved when he was less than a year old. His original surname was Guilevitch , which he changed when he went to the USA. His teachers at the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
included Georges Enesco and Guillaume Remy. He played in the Calvet String Quartet and as a soloist, and toured France with Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
playing his accompaniments.
He immigrated in 1941, in his forties, to the U.S., and organized, the next year, a string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
bearing his own surname. In 1944, he joined the NBC Symphony Orchestra
NBC Symphony Orchestra
The NBC Symphony Orchestra was a radio orchestra established by David Sarnoff of the National Broadcasting Company especially for conductor Arturo Toscanini...
, under conductor Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
; Guilet became concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
in 1951, and continued in that position in 1954 when Toscanini retired and the orchestra was renamed the Symphony of the Air.
Also in 1954, he invited cellist Bernard Greenhouse
Bernard Greenhouse
Bernard Greenhouse was an American cellist and one of the founding members of the Beaux Arts Trio.-Life:Greenhouse was born in Newark, New Jersey. He started his professional studies with Felix Salmond at the Juilliard School when he was eighteen...
to join him and Menahem Pressler
Menahem Pressler
Menahem Pressler is a German-born American pianist, founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio.-Professional career:...
, with whom Guilet had previously made recordings, in playing informally -- supposedly, as Greenhouse put it 25 years later, just "to play some Mozart". As it turned out, they named their group the Beaux Arts Trio, and began playing in public at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
in 1955. The ensemble built an international reputation, and (at the time of his death 45 years later, and 30 after his retirement) the New York Times described it as still the "most prominent trio" in chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, anywhere.
Guilet retired from performing in 1969, after which he taught at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
, the Royal Conservatory of Music
Royal Conservatory of Music
The Royal Conservatory of Music is a music school and performance venue in Toronto, Canada. Other uses of the term include:*The Madrid Royal Conservatory, Spain*The Royal Academy of Music, London, United Kingdom...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Oklahoma University and Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
. He died following a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 91.