Bloch 4 Pieces Op. 36 for Violin and Piano

József Bloch: 4 Easy Pieces, Op.36, for Violin and Piano

Simple rhythms carry these four short pieces, but each one is built to isolate a specific left-hand skill. József Bloch was a working violin teacher in Budapest, and it shows: nothing here is difficult for its own sake, everything serves a purpose.

The first three pieces share that approach. Invocation, in C major, works the first finger's shift between F natural on the E string and B natural on the A string, with a couple of C natural to C sharp moments that introduce the second finger sliding forward. Valsette, in G major, works the third finger's relationship to G and G sharp, and its middle section descends chromatically from the open E string one note per bar (E flat, D, C sharp, C natural, B, B flat), a useful slow-motion drill for finger placement and intonation. Berceuse, in A minor, sits mainly across the A and E strings and works first finger placement alongside G sharp and G natural, testing that same close-or-gap relationship between first and second finger.

Historiette, the fourth piece, is where the groundwork pays off. Its rhythms, bowing patterns, and finger work step up a level, which is why it sits at Grade 3 while Invocation, Valsette, and Berceuse sit at Grade 2.

Played together the four pieces run to around nine minutes, enough for a varied recital set without overstretching a young player's stamina. They work just as well individually: Valsette or Berceuse as a standalone exam piece, with Historiette held in reserve for a student ready for the step up to Grade 3.

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.

Key features

• Instrumentation: violin and piano
• Difficulty: approximately ABRSM Grade 2–3 (Invocation, Valsette, Berceuse: Grade 2; Historiette: Grade 3)
• Duration: approximately 9 minutes (all four pieces)
• Style focus: first-position finger placement, chromatic movement, and intonation
• Format: PDF download, full score and violin part

This set suits a young violinist consolidating first-position playing, whether working through the Grade 2 pieces one at a time or preparing Historiette for a Grade 3 exam or festival class. Teachers building a progressive lesson plan or recital programme will find all four useful together, and each one stands alone for concert or exam use.