Most of the greatest violinists of the 20th Century - Mischa Elman, Nathan Milstein, David Oistrakh, Isaac Stern, Yehudi Menuhin - were of Russian-Jewish descent.

Something in their make-up seems to give Jews a special affinity with the violin, producing an extra intimacy, an extra richness of tone.

Jascha Heifetz belongs to this group. Born in Lithuania, he began playing aged three and went on his first concert tour at 12. He became an American citizen in 1925.

Heifetz gave notable performances of the violin concertos of Elgar and Walton.

In chamber music, he performed with Artur Rubinstein and the cellist Gregor Piatigorsky in an ensemble dubbed the Million Dollar Trio.

Although he relished technical challenges, Heifetz's golden, gliding tone, with its thrilling vibrato and emotional purity, is heard to best effect in melodic passages. It is a unique sound, flowingly seductive.

Heifetz's playing always seems effortless. In photos, his expression appears inscrutable, while he holds the violin weightlessly, allowing the music to flow through him.

Zen Buddhists speak of the quality of wu-wei, usually translated as "non-action" but better as "effortless action": You do what you have to do without trying to do it.

Heifetz had wu-wei.

-Roger Moodiman, Marine Parade, Brighton