Trivia
Violin masterpieces: Solos III

Debussy: Violin Sonata in G Minor

This is the sole violin sonata left behind by Debussy. During his final years Debussy had planned a collection of six sonatas, but he sadly passed away after only finishing the third piece, which we now call "Violin Sonata in G Minor." This means that this song effectively serves as Debussy's death song.

Ravel: Tzigane

This piece is the most famous of Ravel's violin music. "Tzigane" ("zigeuner" in German) is the French word for "gypsy," and this piece is related to "Zigeunerweisen." A difficult piece that requires the utmost in skill, it serves as a perfect challenge for violinists.

Kreisler: "Liebesfreud," "Liebesleid," and "Schon Rosmarin"

In addition to being one of the great violinists of the first half of this century, Fritz Kreisler also left behind many small pieces that are true gems of violin music. The three pieces mentioned here form the "Three Old Viennese Dances" trilogy, and each one is a graceful waltz. As with Kreisler's other works, these violin masterpieces are often played as encores.