Primrose, William

1904–82, Scottish-American violist. After studying in London, and with Eugène Ysaÿe, he played with the London String Quartet (1930–35) and the NBC Symphony Orchestra (1937–42). In 1939 he formed his own quartet. As a soloist he ranked among the world's outstanding violists and greatly contributed to establishing the viola as a concert instrument. Several concertos were written for him.

See his Walk on the North Side (1978); D. Dalton, Playing the Viola: Conversations with William Primrose (1988).