Wieniawski Kujawiak for Violin and String Orchestra

Wieniawski: Kujawiak Op. 19 No. 2 for Violin and String Orchestra

Wieniawski's Kujawiak in A minor, Op. 19 No. 2 is a Polish dance piece of striking contrasts: one moment lyrical, unhurried, and deeply expressive; the next rhythmically driven and physically energetic, with double and quadruple stopping and a series of harmonics bringing it to a close. This arrangement sets the original violin and piano version for solo violin and string orchestra, with a newly composed accompaniment.

A kujawiak is a slower, more introspective cousin of the mazurka, and Wieniawski's version opens with exactly that quality: a singing, flexible melodic line that needs time and space to breathe, with the kind of expressive rubato that makes a phrase feel genuinely felt rather than metrically counted. Then the character shifts. The rhythmic sections ask for energetic, driven bowing, a sharp rhythmic accent, and the physical commitment of playing double and quadruple stops with real weight and projection. The harmonics towards the close add yet another colour: a sudden ethereal quality that sits in direct contrast to the intensity immediately before it. Switching convincingly between these extremes, and making each character feel natural and inevitable rather than simply abrupt, is the central challenge. The technical demands, double stopping, harmonics, and varied bow technique are well within Grade 8; it is the dramatic range and commitment to each character that makes this piece genuinely rewarding to learn and genuinely enjoyable to perform.

The string orchestra shifts with the piece, providing lyrical warmth in the expressive sections and rhythmic energy in the driven ones.

At three minutes, the Kujawiak is exactly the right length for a piece of this intensity. Its extremes of character make it particularly effective in a live concert setting, where the sudden shifts in mood land with an audience.

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)
• Difficulty: ABRSM Grade 8 (solo); Intermediate–Advanced (ensemble)
• Duration: approximately 3 minutes
• Technical focus: double and quadruple stopping, harmonics, expressive rubato, energetic bowing, extreme dynamic contrasts
• Orchestration: newly composed string orchestra accompaniment based on the original piano part
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

Who it's for

This is a strong choice for Grade 8 students who are technically secure and ready to work on dramatic range and character contrast as their next musical challenge. The Polish dance character makes it a distinctive and less predictable choice in a recital programme, and it works well in school concerts and student recitals where something energetic and visually impressive is wanted from a soloist.