Sammons, Albert (Edward)
Sammons, Albert (Edward)
Sammons, Albert (Edward) , esteemed English violinist and pedagogue; b. London, Feb. 23, 1886; d. Southdean, Sussex, Aug. 24, 1957. He received some instruction from his father and others in London, but was mainly autodidact. He began his professional career at age 11, making his solo debut at 20. He was first violinist of the London String Quartet (1907–16); was also concertmaster of Beecham’s Orch. (1908–13), Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes orch. (from 1911), and the orch. of the Phil. Soc. (from 1913). In subsequent years, he appeared as a soloist with various orchs. in England, becoming well known as a champion of the Elgar Violin Concerto; Delius dedicated his Violin Concerto to Sammons, who ed. its violin part and was soloist in its premiere (London, Jan. 30, 1919). For a quarter of a century he gave duo recitals with the pianist William Murdoch, often playing premieres of British scores. He served as a prof. at the Royal Coll. of Music in London. In 1944 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He also composed; his Phantasy Quartet for Strings was awarded the Cobbett Prize. He pubi. The Secret of Technique in Violin Playing (London, 1916) and Violin Exercises for Improving the Bowing Technique by Means of the Tone Perfecter (London, 1930).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire