[Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras

Violin Concerto No. 1 in C majorFranz Joseph Haydn

Aubree Oliverson | Haydn – Violin Concerto no. 1 in C Major

Haydn, who served as a court musician, seems to have conceived his violin concertos with court performance in mind, and they are crafted so they can be readily presented by orchestras of compact size.

At first glance the musical texture appears simple, yet the solo violin repeatedly includes subtly virtuosic passages.

After the DreamGabriel Fauré

Apres un reve, Op. 7 No. 1

This piece was originally the first song in Fauré’s song cycle “Three Songs.” The lyrics are a French translation by the poet Romain Bussine of a poem long passed down in Italy’s Tuscany region.

In the poem, a beautiful woman encountered in a dream and a fantastical world are depicted, and the sorrowful cry of the protagonist, left in reality upon waking, resounds.

That heartrending cry is expressed through the cello’s deep, warm tone.

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HATSUMI

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Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, RV 31Antonio Vivaldi

Nathan Milstein – Vivaldi – Violin Sonata No 2 in A major, Op 2

Vivaldi is famous for composing The Four Seasons, but he also wrote many violin sonatas.

Among them, this piece may be the most accessible, as it begins with a vigorous opening and is performed based on dance forms that were popular at the time.

Recitative and Scherzo-Caprice, Op. 6Fritz Kreisler

Henryk Szeryng plays Fritz Kreisler – Recitativo und Scherzo-Caprice

A celebrated piece for solo violin completed in 1911 by Vienna-born violinist Fritz Kreisler.

It begins with a tense motif and unfolds in an improvisatory manner in the first half, followed by a second half in which a jocular style emerges.

Its hallmarks include colorful harmonies, chromatic development, and trills—virtuosic writing that exploits the violin’s entire range.

Dedicated by Kreisler to his friend Eugène Ysaÿe, the work is a masterpiece that brings out the instrument’s full allure.

Though it demands advanced technique, it offers great joy in performance.

Like a melodyJohannes Brahms

Brahms: "As if it were melody" — from the album "Poésie: Playing Poetry (Song)"

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.

Polonaise Brillante No. 1 in D majorHenryk Wieniawski

Polonaise de concert, Op. 4 (Arr. Jacobsen for Violin and Piano)

Polonaise Brillante No.

1 in D major by the Polish violinist Henryk Wieniawski.

“Polonaise” means “in the Polish style,” and it is a dance with a distinctive, lively rhythm, such as including sixteenth notes on the first beat in 3/4 time.

Wieniawski is known for his virtuosity, but he was also an avid gambler, and his performance style is said to have been bold.

This brilliant and boisterous piece can lift your spirits and put you in a bright, cheerful mood just by listening to it!

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Housui Sachiyo

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Melancholy SerenadePyotr Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky – Serenade Melancolique

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.

Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20Pablo de Sarasate

Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20: I. Moderato – III. Un poco piu lento

When you think of Sarasate, you think of this piece; when you think of the violin, you think of this piece! The ultra-famous Zigeunerweisen.

Combining dramatic flair with a sense of melancholy, it’s a parade of virtuoso techniques—pizzicato, glissando, double stops in high positions, and more.

It’s a masterpiece among masterpieces that lets you revel in the violin to the fullest.

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Housui Sachiyo

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Concerto for Four ViolinsAntonio Vivaldi

Vivaldi: Concerto in B minor RV.580, for four violins – Pham/Gjezi/Darmon/Tudorache – OCNE/Krauze

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.

Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, for Solo (Unaccompanied)Eugene Ysaye

Eugène Ysaÿe: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor, Op. 27 No. 2 (for solo violin)

There’s an indescribable fascination to it: phrases from Bach’s unaccompanied Partitas appear here and there, while the piece moves with the irregularity of contemporary music.

Also, the third movement is subtitled “Dance of the Ghosts,” and the fourth “Avenging Goddess,” so if you listen while imagining those titles, I think you might find yourself surprisingly drawn in.