Suite in A Major for Violin Solo – Von Westhoff

Due to its unique, rich in harmonics, timbre, violin takes especial place in the classical repertoire – it is one of the main solo instruments, together with piano. If we were to mention jazz, saxophone also takes its place on pedestal, but even so, there are only a few instruments which are as versatile as to come to the fore on stage. Now it sounds as a common truth and pretty much it is, but long time ago there were not many people to give violin its due.

Not that there is something unusual in this – it is pretty much how the world works. For example, quite a vast amount of modern music is written on a computer, but before Max Matthews programmed a few sound-generating applications in the 60s, no one associated a PC with anything melodious. If it weren’t for some individuals, history might have taken a different path – some things we take as granted weren’t so until someone pointed out at what context they can be used in.

Name of Johann Paul von Westhoff might not be universally recognized, however it was no one other than him who wrote earliest pieces for solo violinю If it weren’t for Von Westhoff's efforts, we perhaps wouldn’t hear this beautiful instrument in the concert halls this often. Additionally, he was a pioneer in writing a multi-movement violin suite. Download a piece by this distinguished German composer here: Suite in A Major for Violin Solo.