Famous Violin Concertos

A concerto is a work typically written for solo performer, accompanied by an orchestra.

Because many of the greats in music mostly played keyboard (Harpsichord, Piano, etc), they oftentimes had to get advice from violinists on how to best write a concerto for that instrument.

The violin is one of the most beautiful of all musical instruments. Here is a list of the most famous concertos ever written for it:

Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor, opus. 64, composed in 1838
This is one of the most famous violin concertos ever written. This composition is so famous, that it has become a cult amongst young classical violinists. The work is not musically as important as the Beethoven or Brahms Violin Concertos; however, many young classical violinists dream of one day making their world debut with this famous musical work from the Romantic Period. Mendelssohn wrote it for his lifelong friend and violinist: Ferdinand David. Mendelssohn had been an accomplished violinist in his youth, but eventually took to the piano.

Here's the finale of the concerto with Perlman - most of us have more difficulty drinking a glass of water than he does playing this challenging piece of music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPgqfHYeI0Q

Beethoven - Violin Concerto in D major, opus. 61, composed in 1806
The Beethoven concerto is one of the most famous violin concertos of all times. Beethoven’s instrument was the piano, and unlike Mendelssohn, he didn’t play the violin. This work had a disastrous first performance. Beethoven didn’t write it fast enough to give the violinist Franz Clement enough time to practice the work before its premiere in 1806, so it’s reported that Franz had to sight-read some of the work’s passages. Franz Clement and Beethoven were friends. However, it’s said that Franz and Beethoven were not on best terms around the time of the concerto’s first performance. This is one of the most beautiful compositions ever written for the violin.

Brahms - Violin Concerto in D major, opus. 77, composed in 1878
Another composer who was not a violinist. However, Brahms got extensive advise from his lifelong friend and violinist Joachim Raff (Trivia: Raff was a distant cousin of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, and arguably the greatest violinist of the 19th Century) while composing this work. It’s one of the 4-5 greatest violin concertos ever written, as well as Brahms’ only concerto for the violin.

Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto in D major, opus 35, composed in 1878
You cannot have a list of the most famous violin concertos and not include this one - another one in D major. You know the composer is not too keen on the violin when he writes for the violin in its home key of D major. Like Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, this work did not have an auspicious beginning. However, it’s today one of the most famous of all violin concertos.

Vivaldi - Four Seasons, composed in 1723
Another very well known violin concerto - or concertos to be more accurate. It's rare to find an opulent scene from a movie, or perhaps a very expensive automobile commercial where you’re not hearing the first concerto/first movement of this series known as “Spring.” Oddly enough, we praise contrapuntal writing very highly in musical composition today, however, in the Baroque Period, counterpoint was the status quo. Vivaldi uses monotonic style writing in a time when counterpoint was the norm, and, by doing so, is praised today for having been considerably ahead of his day.

Dvorak - Violin Concerto in A minor, opus. 53, composed in 1879
Dvorak was a pretty good violinist, and this work is quite entertaining.

Sibelius - Violin Concerto in D minor, opus. 47, composed in 1904
This is one of the great violin concertos of all times. Like Dvorak, Sibelius was a violinist, so he felt at home with this instrument.

Saint Saens - Violin Concerto in B minor, opus. 61, composed in 1880
One of Saint Saens’ best composition - a must listen to.

Elgar - Violin Concerto in B minor, opus. 61, composed 1890 - 1909
Another must listen to. Elgar was a violinist, and this work is considered one of the most challenging of all violin concertos to perform.

Schumann - Violin Concerto in D minor, composed in 1853
One of the most infamous compositions in musical history - it’s said Schumann was going mad when he wrote it.

These famous violin concertos are played in concert halls throughout the world on a regular basis. There are many recordings of these works to be found in YouTube.