The Friends of Felix Yaniewicz
Patron: Jennifer Pike, MBE
Hailed as a ‘violin genius’ for her ‘luminous beauty of tone’, ‘dazzling interpretative flair and exemplarytechnique’, Jennifer Pike has become an ambassador for Polish music, reflecting her own Polish ancestry. Among her extensive discography, The Polish Violin was extolled by Gramophone in 2019 for ‘virtuoso playing of ferocious bravura… a simply ravishing disc, thrillingly played.’ Jennifer writes:
"I’m honoured to be Patron of the Friends of Felix Yaniewicz. He is an important figure in British-Polish musical history and culture, and I hope that his music will become more widely known. His story is a fascinating one, and I look forward to performing his music around the world."
The Friends of Felix Yaniewicz is a forum for those who take an interest in the music of this remarkable violin virtuoso, composer, and co-founder of the first Edinburgh music festival in 1815. It brings together musicians and music lovers, heritage professionals, members of the thriving Polish-Scottish community and Yaniewicz’s descendants, who all take a share in his legacy.
Our first enterprise was to purchase the Yaniewicz and Green square piano c.1810, which bears his signature inside. Beautifully restored by Douglas Hollick, the piano is to be the centrepiece of an exhibition in 2022 at the Georgian House museum in Edinburgh, with a recital of music by Yaniewicz and contemporaries.
A longer-term goal will be to promote performances of his works, and the wider recognition of his contribution as a Polish-Lithuanian migrant to British musical culture, as part of long and rich tradition of cultural exchange and cross-fertilisation.
We are a not-for-profit organisation, and all funds will be used in the service of our cultural enterprise.
Hailed as a ‘violin genius’ for her ‘luminous beauty of tone’, ‘dazzling interpretative flair and exemplarytechnique’, Jennifer Pike has become an ambassador for Polish music, reflecting her own Polish ancestry. Among her extensive discography, The Polish Violin was extolled by Gramophone in 2019 for ‘virtuoso playing of ferocious bravura… a simply ravishing disc, thrillingly played.’ Jennifer writes:
"I’m honoured to be Patron of the Friends of Felix Yaniewicz. He is an important figure in British-Polish musical history and culture, and I hope that his music will become more widely known. His story is a fascinating one, and I look forward to performing his music around the world."
The Friends of Felix Yaniewicz is a forum for those who take an interest in the music of this remarkable violin virtuoso, composer, and co-founder of the first Edinburgh music festival in 1815. It brings together musicians and music lovers, heritage professionals, members of the thriving Polish-Scottish community and Yaniewicz’s descendants, who all take a share in his legacy.
Our first enterprise was to purchase the Yaniewicz and Green square piano c.1810, which bears his signature inside. Beautifully restored by Douglas Hollick, the piano is to be the centrepiece of an exhibition in 2022 at the Georgian House museum in Edinburgh, with a recital of music by Yaniewicz and contemporaries.
A longer-term goal will be to promote performances of his works, and the wider recognition of his contribution as a Polish-Lithuanian migrant to British musical culture, as part of long and rich tradition of cultural exchange and cross-fertilisation.
We are a not-for-profit organisation, and all funds will be used in the service of our cultural enterprise.
To join the Friends, please use the contact form on this site. Membership is free, though donations are most welcome.