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From the thrilling, raw energy of virtuosic concertos to the tenderest chamber miniatures, the violin<\/a> rules the roost. One moment the violin can be a dazzling solo instrument with ego to match; or it can blend beautifully with other instruments to create magical textures.<\/strong> But what about its music? We’re here to choose the best violin music of all time.<\/strong><\/p> There\u2019s nothing the violin can\u2019t do. It can swing with jazz groups<\/strong><\/a>, cavort with riotous folk bands and, on its own, express melancholy like no other instrument can. No wonder composers have reserved some of their best melodies for the instrument.<\/p> The violin\u2019s pedigree is impressive \u2013 violins as we know them today were being made 500 years ago \u2013 and a golden age spanned decades during the late 17th<\/sup> and early 18th<\/sup> centuries. Even today, violin makers, or luthiers as they\u2019re known, puzzle over the craftsmanship of Antonio Stradivari whose Stradivarius<\/strong> violins<\/strong><\/a> are still regarded as the very finest.<\/p> But which masterpieces should you head for to hear the violin at its very best? We\u2019ve brought together a collection of ten contrasting works to give you a picture of the violin in all its guises. Here are, in our opinion, the best pieces of violin music ever written.<\/p> Is there a better instrument to imitate the flutterings and swoopings of a bird? Vaughan Williams<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s beautiful pastoral masterpiece The Lark Ascending<\/strong><\/a> <\/em>complements a sumptuous orchestral accompaniment with a virtuosic violin part that takes the violin right up to the stratosphere. The composer makes the most of its emotional potential with poignant folk-song style melodies. Simply put: the English countryside in music. <\/p> Recommended recording: Tasmin Little,<\/a><\/strong> BBC Philharmonic\/ Andrew Davis (<\/a><\/strong>Chandos CHAN10796)<\/strong><\/p>Best violin music of all time<\/h2>
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending (1914)<\/h3>