Samuel Barber · Professional · violin
How to play Violin Concerto, Op. 14
Violin Concerto, Op. 14 is in G major and sits at the professional level. Standard 20th-century American audition/competition concerto; the moto perpetuo finale is a common technical/endurance showcase. The fastest way through it is to name the passage that keeps breaking, on the same five dimensions a panel listens for, and fix that one first.
The hard passages
- Sustained lyrical phrasing and tone in the songful first two movements
- Relentless perpetual-motion sixteenth notes and bow endurance in the Presto finale
- Maintaining clean articulation and string crossings at high speed
- Shaping the lyrical opening movements without losing momentum
What panels listen for
Warm, soaring lyricism in the first two movements and an even, unflagging, cleanly articulated perpetual-motion finale.
Frequently asked
How hard is Violin Concerto, Op. 14?
Professional level. Standard professional/conservatory-graduate concerto; well beyond the Suzuki sequence. The finale in particular is a recognized endurance/perpetual-motion test.
What tempo is Violin Concerto, Op. 14?
I. Allegro (Barber's note: allegro molto moderato); II. Andante (andante sostenuto); III. Presto in moto perpetuo. Individual movement keys are not uniformly documented, so only the broad tonal centers are stated.
What are the hardest parts of Violin Concerto, Op. 14?
The passages that trip players up: Sustained lyrical phrasing and tone in the songful first two movements, Relentless perpetual-motion sixteenth notes and bow endurance in the Presto finale, Maintaining clean articulation and string crossings at high speed, Shaping the lyrical opening movements without losing momentum.
How can I tell if I am ready to perform Violin Concerto, Op. 14?
Talk it through with the teacher, free, no signup. Play your take of Violin Concerto, Op. 14, get the one specific fix that is holding you back, then run it again. The teacher listens every day, not just at lesson time.
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Stuck on a passage in Violin Concerto,?
Name the passage and what it does wrong. Real fix in 30 seconds. Free to try, no card.
Name the passage that breaks