[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 (81–90)
If aren’t necessary soGeorge Gershwin
This piece is from the three-act, nine-scene opera Porgy and Bess, composed in 1935—two years before the death of American composer George Gershwin.
A pioneering work that paved the way for the modern musical, it portrays the lives of poor African Americans living in a Southern town in the early 1920s.
Please enjoy the distinctive rhythms characteristic of jazz and Black music.
Violin Sonata No. 5 “Spring”Ludwig van Beethoven
Next, let me introduce a famous violin masterpiece by the “Saint of Music,” Beethoven.
Even those not very familiar with classical music may have heard this violin sonata somewhere at least once.
It remains beloved today and is performed as one of the greatest masterpieces for violin.
Violin Sonata No. 21 in E minor, K. 304Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Among Mozart’s violin sonatas, this is one that is performed fairly often.
It was composed while Mozart was traveling with his mother in Mannheim, so its structure reflects a relatively early style.
At that time, the violin-centered sonata had not yet been fully established; it tended to be more piano-centered, so it can also be regarded as a piano solo piece.
Concerto for Four ViolinsAntonio Vivaldi
This is a concerto by the Baroque composer Vivaldi, famous for works like The Four Seasons.
The overlapping melodies of the four soloists are exquisitely beautiful and make you lose track of time.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s harpsichord arrangement from the same era is also a must-hear.
Sonatina, Op. 100Antonín Dvořák
Dvořák was a Bohemian-born composer active in the 19th century.
He showed musical talent from an early age and played the violin at his father’s inn and in the village dance band from a young age.
It is said that he composed this piece to cultivate the musical abilities of his beloved 15-year-old daughter and his 10-year-old son, Toník.
The melodic themes are based on Native American songs and African American spirituals, and the piece is characterized by syncopated rhythms and the pentatonic five-note scale.
Violin Sonata in E minorFrancesco Maria Veracini
This composer wrote violin sonatas around the same time as Vivaldi, but is known only among students who are learning the violin.
While much Baroque music tends to emphasize virtuosity, this piece places greater importance on tone quality and ensemble interplay with the accompaniment.
[Violin] Carefully Selected Timeless and Beloved Classical Masterpieces and Popular Pieces (91–100)
The Maiden with Flaxen HairClaude Debussy
Claude Debussy was a composer who won worldwide acclaim for his free, unbound approach to composition that defied conventional ideas.
Although his music is often labeled “Impressionist,” he himself rejected the term, and his texts and themes tend to evoke Symbolism.
One of his representative works, The Girl with the Flaxen Hair, is the eighth piece in Book I of the Préludes and is crafted with a melody firmly set in G-flat major.
This time, we’re featuring a performance by Jascha Heifetz, the greatest violinist in history, whose unmatched skill captivated audiences on a whole different level.
