Mini-concerto for violin

Happy Winterval to all!

This is a work I posted previously in the incomplete section, and it takes the form of a mini-concerto for violin (with the movements indicated by the rehearsal marks). 

It's more or less finished now; though I may still have to tweak some of the voice leading, and haven't started writing in the slurs yet.

Since I last posted it, have added a coda at the end, and a whole bunch of counterpoint throughout the piece. (N.B. Rehearsal mark C indicates the start of the coda.)

The work was inspired by Vivaldi, along with a modern work called "The Gold Standard" by Richard Harvey. (The latter was the main inspiration for the coda.)

Think the most successful melody-line is in the second movement, as this carries emotional weight for me.

The other two movements are more like baroque dance music. (I could imagine the cast of "Bridgerton" dancing to them at a ball!)

I may have to cut the work down, as we're not really supposed to go over 5 minutes, and I'm now at 6. So any suggestions about where I could cut would be very helpful.

Not quite sure the structure is properly balanced at the moment, or whether the movements gel together as a coherent whole?

Any suggestions on what to name the piece also welcome.

N.B. The dynamics and articulation are intended for midi rendition, and will have to be adjusted before I send it to the orchestra who are performing it next year.

Congratulations.
I think it sounds great.
I certainly think it has a very classical feel to it, but in many places it veers towards something more modern, such as some of the progressions in the slow section.
I notice that it is treated mainly as melody plus accompaniment, which is quite light and with little emphasis on the counterpoint.
All in all, it works wonderfully.

4 hours ago, Luis Hernández said:

I certainly think it has a very classical feel to it, but in many places it veers towards something more modern

Thanks Luis: that's exactly what I was aiming for!

Can't wait to hear what it sounds like when played by real musicians.

14 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Can't wait to hear what it sounds like when played by real musicians.

Yes!!

Anyway, the sounds you've got are nice.

It reminds me of 20th century neoclassical. Very nice.

On 12/1/2025 at 12:11 AM, BipolarComposer said:

It reminds me of 20th century neoclassical. Very nice.

Thanks!

This was the neoclassical piece that inspired me:

Hi @Alex Weidmann!

On 11/26/2025 at 7:51 AM, Alex Weidmann said:

may have to cut the work down, as we're not really supposed to go over 5 minutes, and I'm now at 6. So any suggestions about where I could cut would be very helpful.

About this I have a crazy suggestion. Maybe you can just cut out the whole first movement and leave the last 2 movements as a pair, because for me those 2 are better movements, while in baroque style they have modern touches. 1st movement also has its modern touches but is more traditional. Or just keep some passages of 1st movement as introduction, then enters the 2nd and 3rd movement in  full.

I do feel the emotional weight in 2nd movement and I like moments in b.58 when the soloist really sings. I also like the driving rhythm in both 1st and 3rd movements. Thx for sharing!

Henry

3 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

About this I have a crazy suggestion. Maybe you can just cut out the whole first movement and leave the last 2 movements as a pair, because for me those 2 are better movements, while in baroque style they have modern touches. 1st movement also has its modern touches but is more traditional. Or just keep some passages of 1st movement as introduction, then enters the 2nd and 3rd movement in  full.

I do feel the emotional weight in 2nd movement and I like moments in b.58 when the soloist really sings. I also like the driving rhythm in both 1st and 3rd movements. Thx for sharing!

Thanks Henry!

That upwards leap in b.58 is definitely a cry of anguish for me. Glad you liked it!

I was actually considering dropping the whole first movement: so great minds think alike!

I agree it's the weakest of the three, perhaps because it's too pastiche, and also feels like it's treading water in the middle section.

Since Vivaldi was a major inspiration, I was trying to evoke his violin concertI in my style of composition. For example the repeated notes in the third movement coda are typical of his music, and help to inject extra impetus and energy.