August Wilhelmj

August Wilhelmj was a German violinist born in 1845 in Usingen, within the Grand Duchy of Hesse. He studied violin at the Leipzig Conservatory under Ferdinand David, one of the leading violin pedagogues of the era. Later he continued his musical training in Frankfurt, studying composition with Joachim Raff, an important figure in German Romantic music.

Wilhelmj embarked on his first concert tour in 1865, performing in Switzerland and the Netherlands. His reputation grew steadily, leading to successful tours throughout Europe. He expanded his international presence further with a world tour between 1878 and 1882, visiting the United States, South America, Asia, and Australia. He had also performed in the Russian Empire in 1868, contributing to his global recognition as a virtuoso violinist.

In 1894 Wilhelmj joined the faculty of the Guildhall School of Music in London as a professor. Among his notable students were Nayan Franco and Jan Hambourg, both of whom went on to have significant musical careers. His teaching solidified his influence on the next generation of violinists.

Although Wilhelmj was widely respected as a performer, his most famous contribution to classical music is often not directly associated with his name. His arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach’s second movement from the Orchestral Suite BWV 1068, known popularly as the “Air on the G String,” involved transposing the piece from D major to C major, allowing it to be played entirely on one violin string. This transcription became immensely popular and remains well known today.

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