Yesterday I got a request to post about romantic violin music (romantic being used in the musical sense)... so here goes!
The Romantic Era in music history is generally considered to have lasted from 1800 until 1910. In the midst of that, around the 1840's, the violin began to become a popular solo instrument, being used in short pieces, kind of like pop songs, then called Romances. But for me the truly romantic violin music is peppered throughout the oeuvres of the great romantic composers. Still however, retaining the same qualities of the Romance: lyrical, sweet melodies; short and simple in form and length; and a bit sappy (or very sappy!). Here are some of my favorites:
(2007: Kalafush, Von Wildeman)
- Beautiful little piece... written originally for piano four hands but works great on violin. Double stops make up for the other hands.
(1992: Shaham)
- Gypsy music... romantic as hell.
(1904: Sarasate)
- Played by the same guy who wrote the gypsy piece above. This was recorded 4 years before Sarasate died. This is a truly bonafide romantic violin recording; made while the Romantic movement was still happening!
Kreisler, Fritz - Caprice Viennois, Op. 2 (1936: Menuhin, Gazelle)
- And this was played by the same guy who wrote the Viennese piece above. You've probably heard of Rachmaninoff (but maybe never heard him actually play) but you may not have heard of Fritz Kreisler. He was a giant in the violin world. Born in 1875, died 1962 he was known for his melodic and expressive style. He was a composer too and wrote many short pieces that are still played often today. He uses that old timey vibrato that I can never get enough of, fast and continuous. He was often compared to Heifetz in that Heifetz had the technical brilliance but Kreisler had the soul.
Here's a video of the same piece played by Guarneri Quartet frontman Arnold Steinhardt:
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