Can anyone recommend some simple, short piano and violin pieces?

July 2, 2010 at 04:50 AM ·

My dad was supposed to bring my violin last saturday ( Im in a nursing home ) but he didnt see the email so he is bringing it this saturday. So I havent played for 2 months so I wont be real good at first. And the old people here that play piano arent the most advanced there is. I can have my dad get almost any sheet music that exists from the library. The King County library system is the best I think there is. I have been reading music, going over scales..., and doing exersizes so I should get it back fast I think. That would be fun to play together.

Replies (7)

Margaret Lee

July 3, 2010 at 10:43 PM ·

how about la cinquantine? It often comes in a collection of fairly short, simple pieces for violin and piano.

elise stanley

July 4, 2010 at 01:09 AM ·

Get him to look for anthologies - I love them, its like the proverbial box of chocolates. You start playing a piece and suddenly you recognize it and the playing becomes easy. Such books usually have staples like 'The Swan' and the two Ave Marias but there are always extra delights.

Sue Bechler

July 4, 2010 at 06:57 PM · You could try the following collections: Solotime for Strings books 2-4, Home Concert from Summy-Birchard, which is a part of the Suzuki stuff. Various learn-to-fiddle books such as Mel Bay, that include the likes of She'll Be Comin' Around the Mountain and Arkansas Traveler. Don't know if they are in print but Readers Digest published big spiral-bound volumes of folk songs, religious songs, stuff from early through mid-1900's. You could play the vocal line. These might be familiar to the pianists. May be able to buy find these on eBay or Amazon. Sue

Janis Cortese

July 4, 2010 at 08:32 PM ·

Operatic arias are a good source -- Vaga Luna by Bellini as an example is gorgeous, and the score is at IMSLP:

http://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/d/d0/IMSLP40391-PMLP88456-vaga_luna.pdf

It's piano+voice, but easy to split up for violin like most tenor or soprano arias scored for voice+piano.

You can also look for some Haendel arias, like Piangero la sorte mia. This one's scored for a few combinations, one of which is trumpet+piano starting on page 5:

http://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/b/ba/IMSLP35937-PMLP35138-Handel_arr_Lichtmann_Piangero_Tr_Pf_HWV17x.pdf

Andrew Pollow

July 4, 2010 at 11:08 PM ·

Thats alot to look up - thanks. I never thought of piano and voice. Vocal melodies would be easy to learn and play quickly. I just got my violin yesterday and Im really into it. 2 1/2 months is too long without playing but I wonder if it could be good to sometimes stop playing for one week. Cuz then when you start again its really new and fresh and your really into it alot.

Lisa Fogler

July 5, 2010 at 12:02 AM ·

Here is something that might interest you. Many of the pieces are fairly easy and enjoyable to play. It's called "Violin Pieces the Whole World Plays". http://www.encoremusic.com/violin/1450375.html

tom utsch

July 9, 2010 at 03:11 AM ·

I think that the two greatest pieces in terms of listening pleasure for violin and piano are:

- Goundod Ave Maria on top of the Bach Well Tempered Clavier No 1...make sure to get the piano version with the extra measure....in C....beware of some sheet music websites that offer it in other keys

- Ashokan Farewell Modern so you pretty much have to buy it somewhere for like $10

After that there is a bunch of great stuff available for free on IMSLP

- Schubert Ave Maria

- Dvorak Humoresque

- Kreisler Liebesleid

- Monti Czardas

- Bach Jesu Joy of My Desiring

- Orange Blossom Special (get the Duncan sheet music)....ok lets face it that is a crowd pleaser like it or not...

- Listen to the Mockingbird (see above)

- Lone Star Rag (Stacey Phillips version)

Happy playing,

Tom