Concertino for violin and piano by Grazyna Bacewicz
Published by Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne
Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969) was a major Polish composer of the 20th century. Her music is characterized by folk-influenced lyricism, modernist angularity, and bristling energy. She was also a violinist of considerable skill, pursuing studies with Carl Flesch and placing as a finalist in the first Wieniawski International Violin Competition. She became the concertmaster of the Polish Radio Symphony and during World War Two gave secret, underground concerts of her own music.
Bacewicz was a noted teacher of violin and wrote a number of works with her students in mind. One of these is popular three-movement Concertino (1945). The piece has limited technical demands and is approachable for intermediate students, resting in 1st-3rd positions. It has fast, energetic outer movements and a slow central Romance with a beautiful cantabile line for the violin. Intermediate level, Grade 3.
