Theme and Variations

Yehudi Menuhin, long considered one of the greatest violinists of our time, is also a man of passionate and articulate idealism. His range of concerns is wide, covering a variety of subjects from music to politics, from education to environment. The writings collected here have as their focus the quality of human life and the variety of experience. Music quite naturally occupies the foremost place in Theme and Variations. The author explores its contribution to humanity and its public, the amateur musician, new music, the critic's role, the violin, improvisation and interpretation, individual composers and musicians ranging from Bach to Ravi Shankar. Turning to areas outside his chosen field, Menuhin discusses education, the environment, and contemporary world problems. He concludes with a thought-provoking essay on "The World Citizen."