Jehin-Prume (originally Jehin), Frantz (Françcois)

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Jehin-Prume (originally Jehin), Frantz (Françcois)

Jehin-Prume (originally Jehin), Frantz (Françcois), celebrated Belgian-born Canadian violinist and composer; b. Spa, April 18, 1839; d. Montreal, May 29, 1899. As a child he studied with Servais and with his uncle, François Prume, whose name he added to his own. He then took lessons with Bériot and Fétis at the Brussels Cons., winning first prizes in violin and theory. At the age of 16, after completing advanced studies with Vieuxtemps and Wieniawski, he undertook a European tour, appearing with Anton and Nikolai Rubinstein, Jenny Lind, and other celebrities. He also formed a famous trio with Kontski and Monsigny. In 1863 he traveled through Mexico, then in the U.S. and Canada (1865). He married the singer Rosita del Vecchio (1848–81) in 1866, and then divided his time between Europe and America; eventually settled in Montreal. His most famous pupil was Eugène Ysaye. He wrote two violin concertos and many effective pieces for solo violin. He also oversaw the publ. of his memoirs as Une Vie d’artiste (Montreal, 1899).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire