Friedrich 'Fritz' Kreisler was an Austrian-born American violinist and composer. Of Jewish heritage, he was however baptised at the age of 12. He was one of the most noted violin masters of his day and regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time, he was known for his sweet tone and expressive phrasing. Like many great violinists of his generation, he produced a characteristic sound which was immediately recognizable as his own. Although it derived in many respects from the Franco-Belgian school, his style is nonetheless reminiscent of the gemütlich (cozy) lifestyle of pre-war Vienna.
The full biography can be seen on Wikipedia.
Further bibliographies:
Autobiography: Kreisler, Fritz, Four Weeks in the Trenches. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin (1915).
List of compositions by Fritz Kreisler.
