The Violin

Watch an expert violinist pick up the violin, place it under the chin and draw the bow across the strings, making music sing in the air: it seems so easy and natural.

Actually, it can feel rather awkward at first! Where do I put my fingers for different notes? And how can I do it as well as pull the bow smoothly so it makes a nice sound? It seems so difficult!

The violin is one of the most popular instruments the world over. Probably more children learn the violin than any other instrument (except perhaps the recorder).

One reason is that music needs so many violins. Music for orchestras needs a lot of violins; gypsy music in Hungary needs violins; raags in India sometimes use violins. Folk musicians in England, America and many other countries use the violin too.

In the 14 tracks of this collection, you can hear many different kinds of classical music from the violin. See which ones you like best...

Naxos Global Distribution Ltd :

Naxos Records is the world's leading classical music label as measured by the number of new recordings it releases and the depth and breadth of its catalogue. Naxos was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born entrepreneur based in Hong Kong. Under his continuing stewardship, Naxos has developed from being known primarily as a budget label focusing on standard repertoire into a global music group comprising a raft of downloading and streaming platforms, a significant catalogue of multimedia products, a vast international logistics network, a recording engineering arm, a publications division, and a licensing department.

Music Tracks and Information:

TR 1 ( 00:04:52 ) 24 Caprices, Op. 1: No. 24 in A Minor

Composer: Paganini, Niccolò | Performer: Kaler, Ilya

TR 2 ( 00:06:42 ) Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216: III. Rondeau: Allegro

Composer: Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | Performer: Capella Istropolitana; Gunzenhauser, Stephen; Nishizaki, Takako

TR 3 ( 00:03:03 ) Salut d'amour, Op. 12

Composer: Elgar, Edward | Performer: Nishizaki, Takako; Jandó, Jenő

TR 4 ( 00:04:59 ) Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043: III. Allegro

Composer: Bach, Johann Sebastian | Performer: Capella Istropolitana; Dohnányi, Oliver; Nishizaki, Takako; Jablokov, Alexander

TR 5 ( 00:03:43 ) 12 Danzas españolas (Spanish Dances), Op. 37: No. 5. Andaluza (arr. F. Kreisler for violin and piano)

Composer: Granados, Enrique | Performer: Nishizaki, Takako; Jandó, Jenő

TR 6 ( 00:05:16 ) Thaïs, Act II: Méditation (version for violin and piano)

Composer: Massenet, Jules | Performer: Nishizaki, Takako; Jandó, Jenő

TR 7 ( 00:06:29 ) Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64: III. Allegro molto vivace

Composer: Mendelssohn, Felix | Performer: Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra; Jean, Kenneth; Nishizaki, Takako

TR 8 ( 00:03:33 ) Slavonic Dances, Series 1, Op. 46, B. 83: No. 2 in E Minor (arr. F. Kreisler for violin and piano)

Composer: Dvořák, Antonín | Performer: Nishizaki, Takako; Jandó, Jenő

TR 9 ( 00:04:55 ) La ronde des lutins, Op. 25

Composer: Bazzini, Antonio | Performer: Hanslip, Chloë; Frantz, Caspar

TR 10 ( 00:03:26 ) Souvenir d'un lieu cher, Op. 42: III. Mélodie (arr. A.K. Glazunov for violin and orchestra)

Composer: Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il'yich | Performer: Russian Philharmonic Orchestra; Yablonsky, Dmitry; Kaler, Ilya

TR 11 ( 00:02:59 ) Sarasate: Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25: I. Introduction: Allegro moderato

Composer: Sarasate, Pablo de | Performer: Navarre Symphony Orchestra; Martínez Izquierdo, Ernest; Yang, Tianwa

TR 12 ( 00:08:31 ) Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12, No. 1: I. Allegro con brio

Composer: Beethoven, Ludwig van | Performer: Nishizaki, Takako; Jandó, Jenő

TR 13 ( 00:03:10 ) 8 Humoresques, Op. 101, B. 187: No. 7. Poco lento e grazioso in G-Flat Major (arr. F. Kreisler for violin and piano)

Composer: Dvořák, Antonín | Performer: Nishizaki, Takako; Jandó, Jenő

TR 14 ( 00:03:59 ) Csárdás

Composer: Monti, Vittorio | Performer: Ferenc Santa Jr. Gypsy Band