#Famous violin repertoire full

Not only that, but it’s one of the most famous violin pieces. The “Bach Double” is perhaps the best-known violin duet of all time. Favorite recording: Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman with the English Chamber Orchestra and conductor Daniel Barenboim, 1972.

#Famous violin repertoire full

Instrumentation: Two violins and full orchestra.

Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043, “Double Concerto,” J.S. I’ve also included my favorite recordings, and I hope they will inspire you to go down a new path in your listening journey! 1. I have chosen this list based on each work’s significance to the violin repertoire canon, their pedagogical importance, and my favorite pieces to both play and listen to. See also: Best Violin Concertos Of All Time 10 Best Violin Duetsīelow, you’ll find what I consider to be the 10 best violin duets.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, Pablo de Sarasate, and Eugène Ysaÿe have all written concertos for two violins. See also: Best Violin Sonatas Of All Time Concertos for Two Violinsīach may have pioneered this category, but ever since, composers have taken the form and run with it. A split between the traditional violin sonata and the very popular instrumentation of piano trios (violin, cello, and piano), they follow similar compositional conventions in unique ways.ĭmitri Shostakovich’s Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano is a very popular example of this category. Sonatas for Two ViolinsĪn extension and adaptation of the more common violin sonata, these works are written for two violins and piano. Popular examples of violin duets are Prokofiev’s Sonata for Two Violins, Bela Bartok’s 44 Duos for Two Violins, and Eugène Ysaÿe’s Duo Sonata. They’re intricate works of chamber music and are useful and fun teaching tools. These pieces are written with just two parts, one for each violin. Here are the three main categories of violin duets: Violin Duets

The most famous example is Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins, a favorite of students and professionals alike. I prefer to think of a broader definition of the category: one that includes sonatas and concertos as well. The term “violin duet” implies pieces written for only two violins. Pieces that offer contrasting voices for each instrument, utilize the full range of the instrument, and tell a story are a joy to listen to and play. While there’s never a specific factor that makes any given duet great, there are compositional techniques that make some works stand out.īecause violin duets are written for two of the same instrument, composers have to work harder to distinguish the two voices in a piece. Violin duets offer musical possibilities impossible with only one violin, and the combined forces of the two instruments can result in an extensive range of music. I hope you’ll take a listen! What Makes a Great Violin Duet? I’ve included the following pieces according to their compositional quality, importance to the violin repertoire canon, and pedagogical merit. While the title of this article makes a claim to finding the “best” duets, that term is necessarily subjective. Below, you’ll find 10 wonderful violin duets and links to my favorite performances.