In 1936 Fritz Kreisler revealed to the world that many of the miniatures that he performed were composed by him and not works ascribed to earlier composers such as Gaetano Pugnani. ?The Praeludium and Allegro had been published in 1905, thirty-one years before this confession. ?By that time it had found its way in the hearts of violinists and audiences alike. ?The dramatic Praeludium gives way to the lively Allegro. ?No one will ever know if Gaetano Pugnani (1731?98) would have enjoyed Kreisler's fun piece, but violinists certainly do!

The PDF file contains the score and all string parts.

The Belgian violinist, Eugene Ysaye (1858-1931), with his impressive blend of virtuosity and poetry, was a great admirer of the young Debussy's music who led the Paris premiere of his only string quartet in December 1893. In September 1892, Debussy was planning an American tour with the financial support of Prince Andre Poniatowski that was to include his 'nearly completed three Scenes au crepuscule', inspired by the Symbolist poetry of his friend Henri de Regnier. He made 'extensive revisions' to them in 1893, even if all that seems to have survived is a series of sketches in Bibliotheque Nationale de France, MS 20632(2), most of which appear to be for violin and orchestra in E or B major. Another related, and more virtuosic, theme emerged in a Parisian sale in June 2006, which opens the main part of the present Nocturne (after a slow introduction).

We also learn from Ernest Chausson in April 1893 that Debussy was composing a work for Ysaye's first American tour in 1894-95, which at one stage was described as a 'concerto'. Then, as Debussy was putting the finishing touches to L'Apres-midi d'un faune in 1894, he told Ysaye he was now working on 'three Nocturnes for solo violin and orchestra which are destined for you', and which undoubtedly derived from his earlier 'Twilight scenes'. The first was to be 'for strings only'. the second for three flutes, four horns, three trumpets and two harps. the third combines all these instruments'. He also informed Ysaye, perhaps with Whistler's Nocturnes in mind, that they were to be like 'a study in grey in painting'. Debussy only abandoned this project in November 1896 after Ysaye told him he would not be able to premiere the Nocturnes in Brussels 'for financial reasons'.

My completion comes closest to the third Nocturne Debussy planned and to being a rondo with related episodes. The dynamic idea that emerged in 2006, which was scored by Debussy, leads naturally into the 'twilight' theme in B major beginning on solo cello and doublebasses, with the high, haunting three-note idea first heard at the outset floating above on solo violin, exactly as Debussy conceived it. All five of Debussy's themes are harmonized and they vary in length between three and thirteen bars: none of them relate to the orchestral Nocturnes of 1897-99. Rather than develop any of these themes, they are presented in changing harmonic backgrounds in the contemporary manner of L'Apres-midi d'un faune, and the whole work centres on an expansive scalar which joins the various aspects of Debussy's 'twilight' themes together in a new perspective.

In a conversation with the violinist Peter Herresthal, we touched on the "invitation" in the score of Ligeti's Violin concerto to provide a cadenza for the work. Peter suggested that I answer this invitation and I was happy to accept. I followed all the composer's directions exactly: the cadenza may use material from all five movements, and should be of "hectic" character throughout. I also aimed to write a cadenza of which the closing orchestral coda would be an inevitable result. (Thomas Ades)

The cadenza can also be composed by the soloist and can last up to 1-2 minutes. It should be hectic throughout (continuation of the appassionata agitato molto), but can incorporate melodic material ad lib. from all five movements. Towards the end, the tempo should be prestissimo with alternating arco and left hand pizz. in mad virtuosity. The cadenza has no real end and is suddenly interrupted by the orchestra at R (as agreed between soloist and conductor). This interruption occurs suddenly as if unprepared. The soloist should at this point be playing in high positions (on the top string) at maximum velocity. The solo violin abruptly falls silent on the entry of the high woodblock. Gyorgy Ligeti

Cinema Paradiso is a 1988 Italian drama film written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. The film stars Jacques Perrin, Philippe Noiret, Leopoldo Trieste, Marco Leonardi, Agnese Nano and Salvatore Cascio, and was produced by Franco Cristaldi and Giovanna Romagnoli, while the music score was composed by Ennio Morricone along with his son, Andrea. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 62nd Academy Awards.

For for Violin Solo and String Orchestra - As performed by Itzhak Perlman and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Enjoy!

Kreisler published his three Alt-Wiener Tanzweisen in 1905 though it is not known when he wrote the. Kreisler deliberately misattributed to Joseph Lanner, a game he played for several years!

Liebesleid or Love's Sorrow is the second of the three pieces. Originally composed for violin and piano and arranged here for violin and string orchestra.

The PDF file contains the Score, Solo Violin, Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello and Bass parts.