Rieding Violin Concertino Op. 21 in Hungarian Style for violin and string Orchestra

Rieding: Violin Concertino in Hungarian Style, Op. 21 (Arr. Violin and String Orchestra)

Op. 21 is one of the most technically demanding of Rieding's concertinos at Grade 6, and the Hungarian idiom gives it a character quite different from the B minor concertos. The left hand has more to do here: scaling arpeggio figures that require fluency across positions, G string passages that demand a different bow weight and angle, and string crossings throughout. The bow arm has its own specific demand: the snappy, rhythmically decisive strokes that the Hungarian dance character requires are distinct from the sustained legato of a lyrical concerto, and getting that rhythmic flair right is as much a musical challenge as a technical one.

The Hungarian character has natural energy and momentum, and a student who understands what the piece is expressing will push through the technical difficulties because the music rewards the effort. The G string work in particular gives students at this level access to a rich, dark tone quality that can be exciting to discover.

The string orchestra version brings the Hungarian character more fully to life than a piano accompaniment. The rhythmic drive of a full string ensemble behind the soloist gives the dance sections the weight and momentum the idiom needs, and the richer harmonic backdrop suits the warmer, more expansive style of the piece.

At eight minutes, it is a substantial concertino that gives a Grade 6 player something to grow into as well as something to perform.

See and hear the difference

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

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Violin + String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
• Difficulty: approximately ABRSM Grade 6 (solo); Intermediate (orchestra)
• Duration: approximately 8 minutes
• Style focus: Hungarian dance character, G string tone, string crossings, arpeggio figures, snappy bow technique
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

Who it's for

This suits student soloists at Grade 6 who are ready for a concertino with more technical and stylistic variety than the standard Romantic student repertoire. The Hungarian idiom introduces a different kind of musical character to work on, and the specific left-hand and bow demands make it a useful next step for students who have worked through the B minor concertinos. It works well as a solo feature for school or youth orchestras, where the string ensemble version gives the dance rhythms the support they need to really land.