[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 (91–100)
Violin ConcertoAleksandr Glazunov
A Russian composer who was active around the same time as Tchaikovsky, he unfolds passages in his works that evoke a distinctly Russian melancholy.
Unlike traditional concertos, it is not divided into separate movements; instead, four scenes are woven into a single whole, allowing you to savor it like an expansive, long-form masterpiece.
Swan Lake · Opening 20a · TH219: Russian DancePyotr Tchaikovsky
It is used in Act 3 of Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake, in the brilliant scene featuring dances from around the world.
Along with The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, Swan Lake is considered one of the three great ballets.
The work depicts the love story of Odette, transformed into a swan, and Prince Siegfried.
Please enjoy the virtuosic violin passages and the glittering melody.
Three RomancesRobert Schumann
Throughout, this piece evokes the fragrance of Schumann’s “Träumerei,” and it’s not uncommon for violinists to select just one movement from it for use in concerts.
Schumann’s own works tend to have dramatic ups and downs, which can divide opinion, but this piece has an almost healing quality, making it recommendable even to those who are hesitant about Schumann.
Italian SuiteIgor Stravinsky
Although it is a piece from the modern era, it is composed based on a Baroque-style idiom.
It selects several memorable numbers from the ballet Pulcinella, and it is also performed on instruments like the cello.
As it progresses toward the latter half, harmonies characteristic of contemporary music appear more frequently, as if the composer’s true nature gradually emerges.
Hungarian Dance No. 7Johannes Brahms
Brahms’s Hungarian Dances were originally written for piano four hands.
However, none of the pieces in the set—not just No.
7—has an opus number.
This is because they are not original compositions by Brahms but rather transcriptions and arrangements of Hungarian Romani music.
In fact, after publication he was sued for plagiarism, but he won the case on the grounds that they were labeled as arrangements.
Be that as it may, the springy rhythms and powerful melodies have a distinctly folk-dance character that really sets the heart dancing!
PaganinianaNathan Milstein
It’s a piece that compresses several of Paganini’s famous works into a single short composition, focusing mainly on the Caprices and Witches’ Dance, among others.
It’s a top recommendation for those who want to start getting to know Paganini, and it’s well-suited for concert performance.
Since it lets you become familiar with multiple pieces in one go, you’ll likely find it engaging and not at all boring.
Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19Sergei Prokofiev
Prokofiev was a Russian composer whose career spanned from the Imperial Russian era into the Soviet period.
This violin concerto was written the year before the Russian Revolution and features a beautiful opening violin solo along with grotesque, unsettling melodies that seem to reflect the sentiments of the people at the time.