ON THIS DAY | Scottish Violist William Primrose Was Born in 1904

He is remembered as one of the preeminent violists of all time

Primrose gave the premiere performance of the Bartok Viola Concerto, the premiere performance Benjamin Britten's "Lachrymae," and the first recording of Hector Berlioz's "Harold in Italy." He is also widely known for his contributions as a chamber musician — as violist of the London String Quartet and Primrose Quartet. For his contribution to the recording industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

After switching from violin to viola at the urging of Eugene Ysaye, he is known to have said that "when I am playing the viola, I feel a sense of oneness with the instrument that I never felt when playing the violin," according to the New York Times.

WILLIAM PRIMROSE & DAVID STIMER | SCHUBERT | AVE MARIA (ARR. VIOLA)

WILLIAM PRIMROSE & DAVID STIMER | BEETHOVEN | POLONAISE (ARR. VIOLA)