If you’re a pianist who is friends with a violinist, or vice versa, you’ve probably discussed bringing your talents together and duetting! Pianos and violins are a classic pairing. With so many possible arrangements, it can be intimidating to just choose one, let alone practice and get good at it. What should you be looking for in a song for violins and pianos?
Some of the best duets for the violin and piano include violin sonatas and reimagined folk songs. Sonatas, in particular, are arranged specifically for the violin and are often simple to learn. These arrangements will work great for pianists and violinists who want to duet!
This article will take you through a list of eight great duets for the piano and violin. However, this is by no means exhaustive, so feel free to use these ideas as a jumping-off point to find great duets to play!
Best Violin Sonatas
A violin sonata is a piece of music written for the violin, almost always accompanied by a piano. This may sound like it will only showcase the violinist, but most sonatas include complicated melodies and movements in the piano’s part as well.
They’re much longer than modern pop songs, most clocking in at over 15 minutes. That makes them a bit more difficult, but it also means that there are chances for both musicians to “show off.” The right duet partners performing a violin sonata will be dynamic and engaging.
Here are some of the best violin sonatas to try out with your duet partner:
Beethoven’s Spring Sonata
Beethoven’s “Violin Sonata No. 5,” otherwise known as the Spring Sonata, is lovely and is one of the most recognizable violin sonatas. This song has a light, airy melodies on both violin and piano parts. This piece isn’t technically challenging, but it requires intonation from the violinist to be precise and on-pitch!
Here’s a stirring rendition of the Spring Sonata:
Johannes Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 2
Brahms titled this beautiful piece in A Major the formal title of “Sonata for Piano and Violin” instead of “Violin and Piano,” as was more common at the time. As you might guess, the piano part is highlighted with many dynamic movements on its own! If you want to make sure that both musicians share the spotlight equally, this song could be a good option:
Claude Debussy’s Violin Sonata
This is another popular sonata for violinists, with many beautiful, technically impressive runs. This was actually the last piece Debussy performed before his death in 1918.
If you’re looking for an unconventional classical sonata, this might be too famous for you. However, if all you’re looking for is a beautiful, expressive piece of music, give Debussy’s sonata a try:
Bartok’s 2nd Violin Sonata
For a challenge, Bartok’s 2nd sonata for the violin is extremely difficult and unconventional. Both piano and violin parts have quick transitions and sharp, aggressive notes. This isn’t what most violin sonatas will sound like, so it can surprise people.
The effect is dizzying and even a little scary! At times, it sounds like the instruments are talking to each other. Take a look at this video:
Other Popular Violin & Piano Duets
Suppose you’d prefer not to perform a classical sonata. In that case, plenty of songs can be easily modified to fit a piano and violin combo. These can be more accessible to non-musicians. After all, everyone has heard “Greensleeves” at least once.
Reimagined folk songs are usually better for beginning violinists, such as young children who might already be familiar with the tunes. And if you are already familiar with the tune, you can try improvising more creative melodies.
Here are several other kinds of songs that you can arrange for a piano and violin duet:
Greensleeves
“Greensleeves” is based on a 1580 English ballad called “A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleeves” and is instantly recognizable. It’s often played at Christmas time and was modified into the Christmas carol “What Child Is This?” It’s a popular song for both violinists and pianists, individually and as a duet.
This rendition of Greensleeves shows you just how much interpretation you can take with a folk song:
Scarborough Fair
“Scarborough Fair” is another traditional English folk song. Simon & Garfunkel released a popular version of this song in 1968. Still, it’s another popular one for violin and piano duets.
This haunting interpretation of the song is just one example of how you can perform it:
The Water Is Wide
This is a beautiful, sweeping Scottish folk song with lots of room for interpretation for both the pianist and violinist. It’s popular with choral groups, but plenty of other unique arrangements exist.
Here’s a simple but moving performance of this song as a piano/violin duet:
“Yesterday,” The Beatles
This is obviously not a folk song, but the Beatles’ “Yesterday” is among the most famous piano and violin duets. You’ll find many of these covers online, with their unique spin on the song.
In fact, plenty of Beatles songs will sound stirring with a piano and violin. Most audiences are familiar with the Beatles, and hearing the songs reinvented with these two instruments will be delightful. Find an arrangement that works for you, then see if you can put your own spin on it.
This video features a medley of Beatles songs, so you can hear how multiple Beatles songs sound when given the piano/violin treatment:
Keys to a Good Duet
When looking for the perfect piano and violin duet, you can do a few things to ensure that you both sound great.
First, make sure both of your instruments are in tune. You will probably need to call a professional if you want to tune your piano unless you have a digital one, of course! Still, violins must be tuned by the musician each time they play. Violins are notoriously tricky to keep in tune, so ensure you have a violin tuner.
The KLIQ UberTuner will work for nearly all instruments and is one of the most popular on Amazon. With a brightly colored display, it’s much easier to confirm that your strings are tuned to the right note.
Next, practice both piano and violin parts separately. Practicing separately allows you to get each part right and pick out any potential sour notes you may not hear from the other person.
Incidentally, both these instruments are in the same key, C, and can share the same musical score. This will make it easier to follow along when playing with each other.
Finally, practice several times together before performing. You may want to record yourself to pick out any movements or progressions that trip you up. Only diligent rehearsal can make sure your duet sounds perfect!
Final Thoughts
Some of the best duets for the violin and piano are violin sonatas from composers like Beethoven, Brahms, and Debussy. You can also arrange folk or popular songs for these two instruments, creating a unique interpretation that audiences will remember.
There are plenty of beautiful songs that will showcase the lovely way that these two instruments play off of each other. These are some of the best songs for piano and violin duets, but feel free to explore different arrangements of your favorite songs.
