Vincent Aspey (5 January 1909 – 18 April 1987) was a

violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

ist, born in England, but raised in New Zealand, who rose to the rank of the first violinist of the

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) is a symphony orchestra based in Wellington, New Zealand. The national orchestra of New Zealand, the NZSO is an autonomous Crown entity owned by the Government of New Zealand, per the New Zealand Sympho ...

. In his later life, he taught

to students, even those less willing, of the

Raumati Raumati is a New Zealand place name and may refer to: *Raumati Beach, Kapiti Coast, New Zealand *Raumati South, Kapiti Coast, New Zealand * Raumati Hearts, a former name of Kapiti Coast United, a New Zealand association football club * Raumati rail ...

and

Paraparaumu College Paraparaumu College is a Year 9 to 13 co-educational state school on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand, approximately 45 minutes drive north of Wellington. There is an international student programme operating with students attending from different ...

s of New Zealand. Notable amongst his many abilities, was a tremendous ability for sight-reading, which undoubtedly helped him impart his knowledge of the violin, as all pieces were accessible to him, so that he could quickly absorb a piece, then suggest, according to his own musicality and experience, how it could be played, and how the piece could improve a player's own musicality. His concert violin was a

Guarneri The Guarneri (, , ), often referred to in the Latinized form Guarnerius, is the family name of a group of distinguished luthiers from Cremona in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose standing is considered comparable to those of the Amati an ...

, with a deeper and less brilliant tone than a

Stradivari Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinized form of his surname, ''Stradivarius'', as well as the colloquia ...

. He also played the viola, to approximately the same standard he played the violin. Vincent was about 5'8" but had good long fingers. His wife was an accomplished cellist. Aspey attended New South Wales State Conservatorium from August 1928 to February 1929. In the 1958 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

, for services to music, especially to the National Orchestra.

Victoria University of Wellington Victoria University of Wellington ( mi, Te Herenga Waka) is a university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. The university is well know ...

awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1974.

Personal life

Aspey was born in Hindley, Lancashire, on 5 January 1909. His father was Thomas Aspey, a coalminer, and his mother was Alice Berry, Thomas's wife. He had an older brother. The family moved to

Huntly, New Zealand Huntly ( mi, Rahui-Pōkeka) (population ) is a town in the Waikato district and region of the North Island of New Zealand. It was on State Highway 1 (until Huntly bypass opened in March 2020), south of Auckland and north of Hamilton. It is s ...

in 1911, and Aspey later attended Huntly School. He married Elspeth Jean Clarkson in Auckland on 7 January 1939, and they had two sons. He died in

on 18 April 1987.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aspey, Vincent 1909 births 1987 deaths New Zealand violinists Male violinists People from Hindley, Greater Manchester People from Huntly, New Zealand English emigrants to New Zealand New Zealand Symphony Orchestra people 20th-century violinists 20th-century male musicians New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire