[Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras
The violin, an instrument beloved since the Baroque era—the very roots of classical music.
At times graceful, at times passionately expressive, the violin’s richly nuanced tone continues to soothe our hearts.
In this article, we introduce classical masterpieces that let you fully enjoy the charm of the violin, adored both as a solo instrument and as the star of orchestras and ensembles.
We’ll also share tidbits about the historical context of their composition and the composers themselves, so even newcomers to classical music can enjoy with ease!
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[Violin] Carefully Selected Timeless and Beloved Classical Masterpieces and Popular Pieces (61–70)
Like a melodyJohannes Brahms
This work, set to a poem by Klaus Groth, a friend of Johannes Brahms, is characterized by a warmly embracing quality.
The wide intervals within the phrases and skillful modulations lend the piece delicacy and depth.
Its melody, deeply intertwined with the poem’s content, conveys an attempt to express emotions and thoughts beyond words through the power of music.
Beginning with broad, arpeggiated progressions and unfolding into long-breathed, beautiful melodic lines, this piece is recommended for those who wish to explore the deepest emotions of the heart through music.
Composed in 1886 and published in 1888, this song, written when Brahms was 53, has continued to be cherished by many performers and audiences.
Violin Concerto No. 22Giovanni Battista Viotti
Giovanni Battista Viotti left an indelible mark on the history of classical music.
Born in Italy in 1755, he later flourished across Europe as a violinist and composer.
His Concerto in A minor, one of his signature works, is a gem that bridges the galant style and Romanticism.
Its blend of delicate melodies and powerful passages resonates deeply with listeners.
Viotti’s influence, passed down through his pupils, had a profound impact on later violin performance.
It’s a highly recommended piece for anyone wishing to experience the allure of classical music.
Violin Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: III. Gavotte en RondeauJ.S.Bach
Among Bach’s unaccompanied violin works, the third movement of Partita No.
3 is especially famous.
It’s often used in commercials and TV shows—you’ve probably heard it at least once.
While solo violin pieces, played on a single violin without accompaniment, are captivating for their austere elegance and grandeur, this piece, being a gavotte dance song, has a bright and brilliant character.
Violin Sonata in D majorJean-Marie Leclair
Because Leclair composed several pieces featuring the violin, he is known only among violinists.
While making use of double stops to weave a divine melody, he somehow ends the piece with a subtitle of “Tambourine,” bringing it to a close in the style of a folk dance.
Melancholy SerenadePyotr Tchaikovsky
One of Tchaikovsky’s few short pieces for violin.
The wistful, lingering rhythm recurs throughout the piece, giving the impression that it was composed on the basis of Russian folk songs.
It is most often performed with piano accompaniment, but in an orchestral arrangement it feels as if the scenery unfolds before your eyes.
Violin Concerto in E major, Op. 64, MWV O 14: I. Allegro molto vivaceFelix Mendelssohn
A concerto for violin and orchestra composed by Mendelssohn in 1844.
It combines radiant brilliance with both a sense of joy and melancholy, offering gentle emotion, balanced form, and above all, irresistibly beautiful melodies.
Alongside Beethoven’s Op.
61 and Brahms’s Op.
77, it is hailed as one of the three great violin concertos.
Joy of LoveFritz Kreisler
Fritz Kreisler, the world-renowned violinist from Austria, reigned as a top-tier performer until Jascha Heifetz appeared.
In addition to his activities as a virtuoso, he also left behind numerous masterpieces as a composer.
Among them, Liebesfreud (Joy of Love) is one of his most popular works, featuring an approachable melody imbued with elements of the Viennese waltz.
Be sure to give it a listen.
