Tessarini Violin Concerto in D Op 1 No 4 for Violin and String Orchestra

Tessarini's Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 1 No. 4 is a well-crafted Baroque concerto with lively outer movements, clear melodic writing, and a style that rewards good articulation and bow control. This edition is taken from the Additional Manuscript and sets the concerto in its original instrumentation: solo violin, string orchestra, and a realised harpsichord continuo part.

At around ABRSM Grade 6, the solo writing asks for crisp articulation, clean bow changes, and stylistic awareness across contrasting movements. The passage work in the outer movements requires left-hand co-ordination at pace, and the slow movement asks for a sustained singing tone and expressive shaping. The string orchestra parts sit at a similar intermediate level, and the harpsichord realisation provides the harmonic foundation as it would have done in Tessarini's own time.

As with the violin and piano edition, the score is largely unedited. No dynamic markings have been added beyond what appears in the manuscript itself, so the text reaches conductors, directors, and players clean. There's no need to work around an editor's interpretive decisions before making your own.

At around six minutes, it works well as a centrepiece in a Baroque ensemble programme or as a student solo feature with full orchestral accompaniment.

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 picture of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Violin + String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass) + Harpsichord (realised continuo)
• Difficulty: approximately ABRSM Grade 6 (solo); intermediate string orchestra
• Duration: approximately 6 minutes
• Style focus: Baroque articulation, bow control, passage work, stylistic awareness
• Source: taken from the Additional Manuscript; largely unedited text
• Format: PDF download, full score, all parts, and harpsichord continuo part

Who it's for

This edition suits chamber orchestras and youth ensembles looking for authentic Baroque repertoire with a soloist. The clean, unedited text is useful for directors who want to make their own interpretive decisions with their ensemble rather than work around an editor's. It also suits student soloists who want the full concerto experience in place of a piano accompaniment.