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A household name since his prodigious childhood, the violinist and conductor Sir Yehudi Menuhin (1916–99) strove to use his fame to draw attention to many humanitarian issues. Humphrey Burton, who knew Menuhin for 40 years, compiled this biography with full access to his subject’s personal archive; it offers a rounded portrait of his family life and his wide-ranging activities as performer, teacher and ‘musical diplomat’. The preface to this centenary edition highlights Menuhin’s continuing legacy.

Described as 'the greatest viola player of all time' on his death, Lionel Tertis (1876–1975) had risen from humble beginnings in Spitalfields and was virtually self-taught on the instrument 'despised' by other string players. This biography charts his long career and celebrates his inspiration of a new generation of violists through his activities as teacher, arranger, editor and performer of music for the instrument, especially those works which his artistry inspired from composers such as Bax, Walton and Vaughan Williams.