[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 (51–60)
ChaconneTomaso Antonio Vitali
Tommaso Antonio Vitali was an Italian composer active from the 1700s to the mid-1740s.
He was known for a musical style influenced by his father, Giovanni Battista Vitali, and by Arcangelo Corelli, and he was also highly regarded as a violinist.
His renowned masterpiece, the Chaconne, is a virtuosic work for violin, and many famous violinists have left celebrated performances of it.
Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minorCamille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns was active in the 19th century as a composer and organist, earning acclaim as “the greatest organist in the world.” He composed his first piece at the age of three and dazzled audiences with his piano playing at seven, being hailed as a prodigy on par with Mozart.
This work, written when Saint-Saëns was 45, was dedicated to Pablo de Sarasate, the preeminent violin virtuoso of the time and the piece’s first performer.
It is a striking composition, notable for its dramatic structure and its passionate, dynamic yet fluidly beautiful melodies.
Violin Concerto No. 1 in C majorFranz Joseph Haydn
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
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 handed down in Italy’s Tuscany region.
The poem depicts a fantastical world and a beautiful woman encountered in a dream, and resounds with the sorrowful cry of the protagonist left in reality upon waking.
That heartrending cry is expressed through the cello’s deep, warm tone.
[Violin] Carefully Selected Timeless and Beloved Classical Masterpieces and Popular Pieces (61–70)
Recitative and Scherzo-Caprice, Op. 6Fritz Kreisler
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.
12 FantasiesGeorg Philipp Telemann
Georg Philipp Telemann, the most popular composer of the German Baroque era.
His Twelve Fantasias for Unaccompanied Violin thoroughly employ a wide range of violin techniques, presenting twelve fantasias in four-movement structures that interweave slow and fast sections.
Each piece is fashioned into a captivating work rich in invention and variety.
It highlights the beauty of Baroque music, leaving a refreshing impression while allowing performers to fully display their technical prowess.
Polonaise Brillante No. 1 in D majorHenryk Wieniawski
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!
