Our top 7 Classical Violin pieces to learn and know about

Mozart – Sonata No. 17 in C

Mozart’s penultimate sonata was originally thought to be composed for piano and violin, but after his death, the piece was excluded from his set of sonatas. This was because it did not become known until five years after his death when it was published for piano and violin.

The violin part was later considered as not being composed by Mozart. This is why, although it can be played by two instruments, the piano here is the main character.

Vivaldi RV 310 Concert in G Major

Vivaldi was extremely popular throughout Europe with his collection “Le strumenti armonici” Op. 3. The cycle, which consists of twelve violin concertos for the orchestra of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice where Vivaldi was a teacher and director for many years, is still performed today.

The two fast outer movements from Op. 3, No. 3 feature ritornelli combined with more virtuosic solo sections, as was prevalent at the time. This ritornello form gives structure to the movements.

In the short but expressive Largo, distinct quarter notes alternate with patterns of sixteenth across all the strings.

Bach – Prelude Partita No 3 in E major

The high-spirited Preludio, which refers to French court music and has a noble, dignified and stately character. Then the mood becomes lighter, livelier and more popular in the Loure.

Bach was a composer, organist, harpsichordist and expert on organ building who is now generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time. A propitious moment in the history of music that allowed him to survey and bring together the principal styles, forms, and national traditions that had developed during preceding generations. His synthesis enriched them all.

Joseph Haydn – Violin Concerto A major

This piece was rediscovered in 1949, and received a positive response when it was performed for the first time in modern times in 1950.

Haydn was one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He wrote 107 symphonies in total, as well as 83 string quartets, 45 piano trios, 62 piano sonatas, 14 masses and 26 operas, amongst countless other scores.

Bach – Chaconne from Partita 2

It’s a monumental piece in the violin repertoire. It’s not as virtuosic as some of the other pieces, but it’s very long and complex musically. There are lots of chords and string crossings, which make it difficult to play. At the same time, it should sound serene, as if it were not so difficult.

Rieding – Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 35

Oskar Rieding’s name may not be one that goes down in history, but he is remembered as a violin teacher who wrote some student concertos for the instrument.

A relatively simple and easy piece of learning. The piece encompasses a range from the open string at G below middle C to, at most, high C. Within this severely limited scope, Rieding composed a six-minute concerto that allows the young player an opportunity to feel that he is now making actual progress. Even so, it has definite musical qualities—an expressive, song-like middle movement. It has been recorded by Itzhak Perlman and mentioned in the notes to it that this was the first concerto he ever played.

Paganini – God save the King

What is life without a bit of a challenge?

Paganini’s ‘God Save the King’ is one of his most difficult violin pieces, as shown by its extremely fast and impossible left-hand pizzicato sections accompanied by a drone, as well as the melody in double stops.