Advanced Violin/Piano Duets

May 10, 2006 at 07:23 AM · you're very wrong in saying that sonatas don't show off the piano, often the piano (accompagniment) is much more demanding. a sonata is an equal share of voiving between the two instrument, the Mozart sonatas are for Piano and violin accompagniment.

otherwise don't know, try Elgar sonata

Marianne

May 10, 2006 at 07:38 AM · If you want something challenging (even though it's a sonata, which you said you didn't want), Strauss's violin sonata is very challenging for both violin and piano. It has some very soloistic passages for both instruments, but it also has beautiful melodies. It's one of my favorite violin sonatas.

May 10, 2006 at 07:43 AM · mine too along with the Elgar...hmmm

May 10, 2006 at 11:39 AM · Brahms sonatas also have huge piano parts.

May 10, 2006 at 12:01 PM · I would suggest Allegro de Sonate by the Wieniawski brothers.

May 10, 2006 at 12:30 PM · Hi,

There are many pieces that are not sonatas and great for both instruments, like Stravinksy's Duo Concertant and Suite Italienne, Schnittke Suite im Alten Stil, and a panoply of other works.

For where you seem to be situated in terms of repertoire, you may want to try something like Korngold's Suite Much Ado About Nothing.

I think that the two great sonatas above, Elgar and Strauss are probably beyond your levels. The Strauss is tasking even for the most professional pianist.

Cheers!

May 10, 2006 at 12:59 PM · in the 19th century it was common for virtuoso violinists to team up with virtuoso pianists for joint-effort compositions. These mostly done on opera themes from the day. I would note particularly the duets written collaboratively between Beriot/Osborne, Beriot/Thalberg, Beriot/Benedict, Leonard/Herz, Vieuxtemps/Rubenstein (Anton), Sarasate/Diemer. etc.

May 10, 2006 at 01:27 PM · What are commonly referred to these days as "violin sonatas" were composed as "sonatas for piano and violin," i.e., they were not written as violin showpieces with piano accompaniment but were written as equal collaborations. I'm talking Beethoven and Brahms...

May 10, 2006 at 10:44 PM · Greetings,

I think you will find the Franck and Kreutzer sonatas give many piano players the heeby jeebies,

It is also interesting to compare the Heifetz and Kreisler collections of short pieces. Heifetz tended to put more emphasis on the role of the piano as equal in creating mood and effect. His works are well worth ex@ploring as an alternative to the perhaps more often played Kreisler works.

Cheers,

Buri

May 10, 2006 at 10:49 PM · What about the Prokofiev sonatas? I really love Prokofiev, especially his sonatas. The No. 1 in F minor I think is especially haunting. I also really like the Brahms sonatas, my favorite is No. 3 in D minor. And then the Mozart Sonatas, they are nice and simple but very musically challenging. What I like about all these sonatas is the piano has a big part.