Johann Sebastian Bach’s Violin Concerto in E Major, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, and Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings are all well-known violin works. These musical compositions are among the most well-known among listeners, as well as among the most well-known among violin students and professionals. Bach and Mozart are two composers who contributed significantly to stringed instrument repertoires, and Barber built on that foundation with his famous contemporary violin piece. The three well-known violin pieces are considered some of the most difficult works for the instrument, and a musician who can play them well demonstrates a strong commitment to the instrument.
The Violin Concerto in E Major is one of Bach’s works that emphasizes the solo violin, which is accompanied a harpsichord and other main stringed instruments found in the composer’s day’s orchestras. Between 1717 and 1723, Bach composed a number of secular famous violin pieces under the patronage of Germany’s Prince Leopold. The E major chord dominates much of this score until the slow-tempo second movement, when it switches to a minor chord, setting a completely different mood for the audience. In the concerto’s livelier final movement, a virtuoso solo violinist gets the chance to interact musically with the other musicians while also showcasing his talent.
Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is often referred to as “A Little Night Music,” and it is easily recognized even those who are unfamiliar with classical music. This song is frequently heard in popular culture, such as in movies and television shows. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik was written the prodigy composer in a style that differs from some of his other well-known violin works. Some musicologists argue over whether this work should be classified as a symphony, a chamber quartet piece, or something else entirely.
Barber’s Adagio for Strings, composed in the late 1930s during the Great Depression and the beginnings of World War II, is one of the most well-known violin works of the twentieth century. This well-known piece was written for a string quartet, but it is better known for its impact when performed a full orchestra. Adagio for Strings is structured to take the audience on an emotional journey that begins with a single violin note and progresses to more complex melodies.