Accolay Violin Concerto No. 2 for Violin and String Orchestra

A single-movement concerto in D minor with tunes that lie well under the fingers, here for solo violin and string orchestra. It shows what Accolay knew about writing for the violin: long arpeggio patterns that give the left hand a real workout.

After an eight-bar orchestral introduction the soloist sets off and hardly stops. The only rest is one eight-bar orchestral interlude, so stamina matters as much as technique. The arpeggio writing runs through much of the concerto and needs a secure left hand, with clean shifting and good intonation across the strings. A short double-stopping passage is the trickiest moment for the left hand. The melodies are fun to play, so the hard work doesn't become a chore. The orchestra supports the soloist with sustained harmony, repeated quavers and pizzicato bass, and it keeps the texture light so the violin always sits on top. The concerto finishes with a short Più mosso in D major that ends on a three-octave D major arpeggio.

The piece lasts about 9 minutes. That suits a competition round, a recital half, or a school or youth orchestra concert with a guest soloist. It is a full concerto in a single continuous movement, so it needs no cuts to fit a programme.

Check the score and parts preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear picture of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

• Instrumentation: solo violin, violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, double bass
• Difficulty: approximately ABRSM Grade 8
• Duration: approximately 9 minutes
• Style focus: extended arpeggio patterns, left-hand agility, short double-stopping passage, stamina
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts