Stanley Weiner

Latin-American-Suite

Stanley Weiner (1925-1951) is mainly remembered as a performer: a solo violinist. His musical career was predetermined for his father served as assistant principal violinist to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. At the age of 8, little Stanley gave solo performances, auditioned for Leonard Bernstein in 1947 and thus became the youngest principal violinist of the New York Symphony Orchestra. Weiner's career as a composer started rather late, at the age of 35, but then he wrote over 200 works, particularly instrumental music of all genres. The 'Latin American Suite', dedicated to the violin virtuoso David Oistrach, is an effective work which begins with a sweeping virtuoso Allegro con brio. Baroque form, expressive melody and delicate sound effects are combined in the middle movement, headed Basso ostinato, until the work culminates in a rhythmically fresh and capricious Molto vivace.