Hi.

Basically I'm looking for some new stuff to play on the violin. I've been looking through the diploma lists (not that I have any intention of doing the diploma) but just don't really know where to start so any suggestions of things that people have been playing recently would be much appreciated.
Over the last year ish I've learnt the Bruch violin concerto in G minor, Mozarts double violin/viola concerto in Eb, Kreislers zigeuner caprice and praeludium and allegro, Bachs 3rd sonata and partita (and looked through the other 2). Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

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I'm not sure if this will help or not but here are a few I like. Brhams Symponey number 1, anything by brhams or batch is really pretty especially violin concertos by brhams. Hope that helps with some ideas.

I'm a little puzzled by this answer. The only point of learning the violin part to a Brahms symphony would be if you are going to play it as a member of an orchestra. The violin part on its own is meaningless. Brahms did not right multiple violin concerti, so I'm assuming you meant sonatas. These are however VERY romantic in nature and somewhat slushy without any real melodic line.

Batch? Did you mean Bach? You might like to try the Bach A minor concerto, or the E major concerto, or even the D minor concerto for 2 violins.

How about some Beethoven? His sonatas are challenging for any violinist but really lovely to play.

There's always Stravinskys' Suit Italienne if you want something rather more modern.

Or even more modern, how about the Philip Glass violin concerto? Quite melodic in fact and some lovely repeated figures in it that almost verge on a Paganini style of writing.

May I recommend the Romance in F minor by Dvorak, I think it's Op 10. Or his Four Romantic Pieces for Violin & Piano. I play all these with my daughter. The Romance is Dip standard, the 4 pieces Gr 8 is.

Amanda - Thanks, I've done the Bach double but will have a look at the other 2 you mentioned. I'd been considering getting the first or second volume of Beethoven sonata's so maybe thats the way to go.

Fsharpminor - Will definately see if i can get my hands on both of those, I listened to them and they are gorgeous, exactly the sort of thing I had in mind.


Thank you both!

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Not really very experianced but think that certain things by Bach (I typoed) and Brahms are really good. I like Brahms sonata no.3 D minor Adago. But as Amanda said it is very romantic. Also Schubert sonata n#1 is really pretty but it's done with piano.

If you like the Dvorak pieces you should also look at Smetana's Aus der Heimat if you haven't before, especially no. 2, which I think is brilliant and showcases a huge range of aspects of your playing.

I second the suggestion of the Bach concerti, and as well as solo Bach there are lovely violin & keyboard/continuo sonatas. Continuing on the Baroque theme, Telemann fantasias are good, and Vivaldi is worth exploring - as well as the famous Seasons and A minor there are lots of lovely more obscure concerti which are not very hard technically but with which you can do a lot musically. I'm loving the E major concerto Opus 3 no 12 which is on the current grade 8 list.

I love Haydn concerti so if you ahven't explored them you should: C major is harder than G major, think there's a D major too. Another concerto lots of people I know seem to play is the Kabalevsky - I'm not sure but I think that's a bit harder.

As well as Beethoven sonatas there are two lovely romances. I also quite like Fauré, e.g. there's a Berceuse and various others which you can buy in a book all together. There's also Tchaikovsky souvenir d'un lieu cher.

If you go on IMSLP you could explore some more obscure violin composers e.g. Dancla, De Beriot, Viotti...

Hope that's told you at least something you didn't already know.

Glad you liked my Dvorak suggestions. I would also endorse the Brahms 3rd Sonata ( in D Min and the best of the three.) Same with Grieg , the third in C minor- also a bit nationalistic like Dvorak.
I stress I am not a violinist, but have played a lot of violin repertoire as a pianist since my Uni days (1965-68!)

I'd agree with everything mentioned above. The great thing about the violin is that there's so much to choose from! Having done the Bruch, why not try the Mendelssohn violin concerto? If you're after something less monumental, anything by Sarasate is always fun. If you're after some Paganini that's technically less demanding I suggest his Cantabile and Waltz (indeed also Cantabile in D). Have fun! x

I would suggest "Chaconne in G minor" by Vitale (or attributed to ... there's much debate about that!). It would be quite challenging but is absolutely gorgeous! I performed it a few years ago and loved it!

Another suggestion would be the Faure Sonatas. Lovely, lovely music!

O-oh, so is the Bruch Concerto within the not too long term realms of possiblity for someone who has aims of taking Grade 8 this year? I've just literally this moment finished listening to Vengerov's recording of it, and it's gorgeous! (I just bought an 11 box CD set of Vengerov's recordings, just to get a decent recording of the Elgar Sonata (it doesn't seem to have been recorded much) and it's got so much incredible music on it!) And I'm dying to have a shot of playing SOME concerto! (That isn't Vivaldi bleh A Minor)

Yes defianately, my teacher suggested it as soon as I'd done my grade 8, but I waited for a year or so whilst doing other repertoire and then learnt it.
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