10 Best Violin Concertos of All The Time

American Grammy award winner violinist, Mr. Joshua David Bell once was quoted saying “When you play a violin piece, you are a storyteller, and you are telling a story.” In the Baroque period, the solo violin concerto was formed and highly praised by the leading composers. As the time passed by, it became more soothing, more powerful with synchronizing orchestra and several violins. Let’s get familiar with some of the best violin concertos of all the time.

1. Mozart: Violin Concerto No 3

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Yes, we are talking about the magician Mozart and his famous violin concerto no 3. Among the five authentic concertos, this is considered one of the best in his lifetime of work and best violin concertos of all time. This is a three-movement classical chamber concerto which is precisely intimate and full of life. The movements are changed in a perfectionist way as Mozart was and it was quite the best work of him. The orchestral entrance and operatic movement are breathtaking. In the finale, the violinist burst into the triplet arpeggios and the arrangements of the flutes are just cherries on top.

2. Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto

Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

German composer and pianist Felix Mendelssohn wrote this masterpiece in the early romantic era. Mendelssohn composed it in a classically structured standard but adapted an introduction of a new instrument in the beginning.  It was first performed in 1844 featuring David at the fiddle who is a childhood friend and the sole inspiration of the composer himself. In the first movement, it has a variety of construction and development of several themes which lead to the next movement, with a bassoon playing. The sustaining tone and perfect silencing gaps between the movements make it an astonishing piece of movement. The conclusion is joyous and vibrant.

3. Brahms: Violin Concerto

Composer: Johannes Brahms

If you are digging into classical music, the name Johannes Brahms will come frequently, almost in every segment. It is constructed in a classic three movements. It was first performed in January 1879 with the Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim who was a friend of the composer. Brahms was the conductor in the performance. The classic piece of work is mostly known for its complexity and lyrical melodies. Mr Joachim starts the marvelous work in the first movement. In the second movement, violin soloist gets out from the spotlight for the extended oboe solo. It was revised and remained as the solid work.

 

4. Bruch: Violin Concerto No 1

Composer: Max Bruch

Max Bruch wrote this masterpiece in the post-romantic era. His intention was to make it as a fantasy rather than a concerto. This is one of the most popular nineteenth-century concertos. It was remarkable and the first big orchestral work of the genius Max Bruch. Starting with a soothing entrance, sudden orchestral segments will shake you. This jumps into the stormy sequence. The double stops develop the sectional works. In the next movement, you can explore into the drifting solos and it ends up with a very long pause. In the finale, the joyous orchestral structure rises up. It is basically themed on a dance movement. It is played on an emotional pitch and ends up with a gloomy weather.

5. Bartók: Violin Concerto No 2

Composer: Béla Bartók

In his whole lifetime, this amazing composer explores many interests in compositional works and this concerto is one of the best works of him. It was first performed in 1939 in Amsterdam. The most amazing part of this concerto was it was profound in varieties within structural three movements. It starts with thematic material effects. In the second movement, the main theme returned but in a scattered way, in a differentiated way. Following the waltz-like version of the theme it ended.

 

6. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No 1

Composer: Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich

Like many of the renowned Soviet composers, Shostakovich found that many of their works which were praised by the elites once, had been banned after 1948, the big turnover. This concerto is one of those best concertos that has been kept and praised by the music hankering people. This concerto also structured as a classic three movements like his other works. It starts with a dark and gloomy environment. Second movements were mostly on interesting allusions. It ends with a mournful theme.

7. Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

It’s often said that this concerto is one of the unplayable concertos. It was written in 1878 by the nobleman, Tchaikovsky. It is a common belief that it was his first introduction of himself in a medium of concertos. The work is totally filled with lyrical excellence and folk environment. This overly expressive and three movements based concerto is the composer’s most creative work.

8. Berg: Violin Concerto

Composer: Alban Berg

This amazing piece of composition was structured into two parts of two movements each. The first two parts are constructed as classical sonata-allegro and dance movements. It is a representation of a dancing girl. The second two parts are made up of the thematic development. The tone and environment are quite unique as it is constructed with the outline minor and major triads. With the romantic forms, it ends up with a theme of lost youth.

9. Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor

Composer: Jean Sibelius

With a fiddle in hand and a master like Martin Wegelius, Jean Sibelius had to come up with this masterpiece. The premiere wasn’t quite a successful one and it led him to dig deeper and come up with a polished and standard version. As beautiful as this piece is, it is also considered one of the hardest violin pieces.

10. Vivaldi: Four Seasons

Composer: Antonio Vivaldi

This Italian composer came up with this amazing composition of musical experiences of the seasons of a year. It was published in 1725 and highly praised by the classical music fan base. It was the first appearance of a detailed program music. It basically narrates the elements with the music. It is a delightful piece of work with an amazing lyrical theme.

 

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