Nocturne for Violin and Piano

This is a nocturne for violin and piano. My first opportunity to write for a solo string instrument. I would greatly appreciate some technique considerations, etc!

Nocturne for Violin and Piano

Hey Samv,

This piece looks pretty good, and I don't see any problems with your string writing. Just a few minor issues: if you want the triplets in m. 23, 28, 38, 65 etc. to be played as one rhythmic gesture, you should notate them appropriately (as 6-tuplets or 9-tuplets etc., not as groups of triplets, otherwise the performer might accent the triplets as a pulse.)

Is there any particular reason you designate "sul g" in m. 50? I would strongly suggest you leave performance techniques like this up to the performer (especially if you're not a really experienced string writer), unless there's a very clear reason to do so.

What exactly do you mean by "senza tempo" in m. 78? In this case, the V chord in the piano won't resonate through that whole section, so there's no need to write it all out like that. An alternative notation would be to simply write the chord in m. 77 with the pedal - that way you might even get some sympathetic resonance from the violin's line.

Do you have a performer in mind for this? Most people nowadays don't improvise their own cadenzas, so you might want to write one out just in case.

Aesthetically I had a few issues with it, but obviously feel free to ignore them entirely! Rhythmically, it feels very static... it might be interesting to mix up the strong triple meter with some more syncopation or polyrhythms in the piano.

Maybe the biggest problem in my opinion was the bass line - your violin melody is quite nice, but I get the impression you weren't really paying attention to the bass melody. Try to think of the lowest note of the piano (the first beat) as a melody in itself, rather than just an accompaniment. You don't always have to use chord-tones as well - I would suggest trying to think in more contrapuntal terms: give the bass line a melodic arch and I think it'll really come together.

But overall, a nice piece! I'm looking forward to the recording:)