Five Stunning Chopin Piano pieces to play on your violin??

How many times have you listened to stunning piano tracks and thought how lovely it could be to play the same on the violin? I know that violin repertoire is huge, but sometimes it’s interesting to make an inroad into different repertoire such as piano. I’m not referring only to classical but also to movie tracks and new contemporary songs. I was attracted by sort of pieces like that since I started playing, but for several years my attention was captured by the violin program and I neglected other kinds of repertoire. In the last two years, I’ve started to study some transcriptions about super-famous piano pieces that, as far as I’m concerned, are lovely on violin.

I always thought that some pieces were made for a unique instrument and it’s almost impossible to be convincing with another one. This is because there’s a sort of invisible connection between some melodies and the nature of the sound that voices them. It’s not only a technical problem related to the instrument itself.

In this article, I want to share with you just five Chopin pieces that impress me on the violin as well.
In the next article, I can talk about other composers or instruments. If you want to give me a suggestion, please feel free to comment!


This Nocturne is played not very often on violin. Probably because it’s the most complicated in order of using chromaticisms and descending scales in the op.9 transcription.
Ths performance by
Catherine Manoukian is an interesting example of technical strength and romance.

Download

Nocturne op. 9 n°1-2-3 violin part

Nocturne n.20 Op. Posth (Milstein’s arrangement)

Tristesse Etude op.10 n°3

1. Chopin Nocturne Op, 9 n.1

This Nocturne is played not very often on violin. Probably because it’s the most complicated in order of using chromaticisms and descending scales in the op.9 transcription. This performance by
Catherine Manoukian is an interesting example of technical strenght and romance.

2. Chopin Nocturne n.20
Op. Posthum C sharp

I listened to this violin transcription arranged by Nathan Milstein and it’s enough to love them forever. The sadness is perfectly represented by his sound and It’s hard work to reproduce the same feeling and sound. It made you breathless. What do you think about? I put the violin performance and the sheet for downloading.

3. Chopin Nocturne Op, 9 n.2

Probably, this is the most famous transcription to a Chopin’s track for violin. Movies made this piece so popular that is hard to play it without any kind of suggestion. I chose this version on youtube played by Joo Young Oh marked by a clear and clean sound.

4. Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 3

So romantic this version on violin! It’s a famous etude in which all famous features about Chopin are explained. It means that peaceful and kindness are the most important part of this performance.

5. Chopin Waltz In B Minor, Op.69, No.2

Again Catherine Manoukian . She performed this Waltz in B minor with a sound very balanced in a double prospective: soft and intensive. Phrases are legato and the sense of crescendo and diminuendo is like a boat into the sea.

My suggestions stop here but there’s a lot to write talking about Piano repertoire transcripted to the violin. It’s interesting to talk about the technical issues (violin assessment, positioning, fingering, etc.) but it deserves another article! Leave a comment if you have experienced with pieces like these and don’t stop to improve your violin addiction!

CategoriesViolin World