Music for unaccompanied violin not written by J.S. Bach

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I love this genre, but have been very slow to explore it. (I have several recordings of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas of course.) I have the Paganini caprices played by Michael Rabin (who I have grown to like less and less over the years), and, interestingly, a couple played by the great Ricardo Odnosposoff. I also greatly enjoy the Nielsen pieces (Kai Laursen). I am interested in exploring the Max Reger and Biber sonatas, Ysaye, and anything else anyone may care to suggest. Thanks

[kishnevi]

The sonata Bartok wrote for Yehudi Menuhin.
Ysaye, of course.
Besides Biber and Bach, the. baroque era produced several works of this genre.  Gunar Letzbor has recorded three or four CDs from various composers. I would recommend those recordings.
Naxos had(has?) a series devoted to 19th century violinist/composers, with some of the works for solo violin.

Among living composers, I think Ades has written a work for solo violin, but I have never heard it (if it exists).

[Gurn Blanston]

In the Baroque and pre-Classical, the genre was almost always solo violin with basso continuo accompagnato. Are you totally intent on solo violin, or is the BC OK with you? 'cause there is some great stuff out there with BC...

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Word. BC is chill, Yo. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Word. BC is chill, Yo. 

Well let me be the first (and probably only) one to recommend this composer. I don't have alternative recordings to recommend, but this one here is very fine. Lolli was known as a sort of oddball, many thought he was insane. He was totally self-taught, and played things that others hadn't really thought about. The time and place are right for him to have been an influence on the young Paganini, although there is no documentation other than Lolli having played in NP's hometown when NP was a youngster.

[bhodges]

The sonata Bartok wrote for Yehudi Menuhin.

Seconding this one. Tetzlaff's recording is pretty great.

[asin]B00022GJRO[/asin]

--Bruce

[Mandryka]

The only recording of the bartok sonata which I have enjoyed is by Leila Josefowicz. It is extremely musical, I heard it again just a couple of weeks ago and was really impressed by how she manages to turn it into music.

There's a lot of music in this genre. Three that come to mind are Carter's Riconoscenza, the Berio sequenza and  Ferneyhough's Unsichtbare Farben. Other people may recommend the Cage violin etudes, I've never enjoyed them for some reason.

If you like early twentieth century romantic music, Ysaÿe wrote a lot of solo violin sonatas.

If you'd extend it to include pieces for violin and tape then Boulez and  Richard Shapey are outstanding. And for two violins there's Stockhausen, and indeed Bartok again.

[Jo498]

Only a few of Biber's are really "senza basso", I think. The famous passacaglia (last piece from the rosary, all of which are otherwise with basso continuo) is one of them.
Same for Pisendel, Westhoff etc. I think there is one set by Telemann for strictly solo.

Reger's (also cello and viola) and Ysaye's are available but I have not heard all of them. (I think the Ysaye is complete on Oehms with Benjamin Schmid and most or all of the Reger on Dorian)
A disc I bought somewhat recently but cannot yet comment on combines 2 of Ysaye's with Boulez, Sciarrino and Jörg Widmann (the violinist is his sister).

[asin]B000EUMKK4[/asin]

[EigenUser]

I love this genre, but have been very slow to explore it. (I have several recordings of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas of course.) I have the Paganini caprices played by Michael Rabin (who I have grown to like less and less over the years), and, interestingly, a couple played by the great Ricardo Odnosposoff. I also greatly enjoy the Nielsen pieces (Kai Laursen). I am interested in exploring the Max Reger and Biber sonatas, Ysaye, and anything else anyone may care to suggest. Thanks

How do you feel about late 20C? Boulez wrote Anthemes I for solo violin. Anthemes II is even cooler, but it is accompanied by live electronics. However, the live electronic sounds are all violin-related sounds, so that could qualify.

I did a violin transcription of the Ligeti Sonata for Solo Cello, but there is no recording, obviously (I did the transcription just so I could play it for fun).

[Florestan]

Well let me be the first (and probably only) one to recommend this composer.

Wrong. I second that wholeheartedly. I already did that actually: http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,21492.msg900985.html#msg900985 

Some other goodies (solo violin):

Louis-Gabriel Guillemain - 12 Caprices for Solo Violin Op. 18

Johann Paul Von Westhoff - Six Partitas for Solo Violin

Giuseppe Tartini - Solo Violin Music

Giuseppe Tartini - Solo Violin Sonatas

Giuseppe Tartini - L' arte dell' arco

For violin & bc, see some recommendations here: http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,24936.msg904559.html#msg904559

[king ubu]

There's the Honegger sonata of course ... not familiar enough with it to recommend any particular recordings I'm afraid, I only have one by Christian Ferras (to be found on his very, very good DG/Universal box).

[listener]

The ERNST Études can be recommended for showy technique - Variations on 'Home Sweet Home' and a transcription of Schubert's Erlkönig are easy to find.   Prokofiev Sonata op.115, Rochberg Caprice Variations, Rode 24 Caprices I found quite a bore,
Schnittke À Paganini also on the list
Listening with a score adds to a good performance of any of these equivalents of pianists' knuckle-busters'

[springrite]

Two unexpected one:

Arthur Schnabel

Wilhelm Kempff

[Peter Power Pop]

Well let me be the first (and probably only) one to recommend this composer. I don't have alternative recordings to recommend, but this one here is very fine. Lolli was known as a sort of oddball, many thought he was insane. He was totally self-taught, and played things that others hadn't really thought about. The time and place are right for him to have been an influence on the young Paganini, although there is no documentation other than Lolli having played in NP's hometown when NP was a youngster.

An extremely helpful person on YouTube has posted that album in its entirety:

https://www.youtube.com/v/b4ZY4HeBewE

[Dax]

There's the early solo Sonata by Skalkottas as well as quite a bit by Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté (including a Concerto for solo violin - are there others?)

[The new erato]

Perhaps OT but Hindemiths solo viola stuff is very fine.

[Herman]

Perhaps OT but Hindemiths solo viola stuff is very fine.

So are Max Reger's suites for viola.

Tabea Zimmermann recorded them coupled with two Bach cello suites, transcribed for alto.

[Brahmsian]

Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté (including a Concerto for solo violin - are there others?)

Immensely enjoy hers! 

[Luke]

Ysaye has to be right at the top of the list. Bartok's Sonata up there too. And Biber, of course. But a more unusal rec - Khandoshkin, one of the very earliest Russian composers, and author of some exceptional, characterful works for solo violin.

Shame Kodaly never did for the violin what he did for the cello, mind, or this discussion would look very different! 

[Luke]

...am thinking of solo violin arrangements of Erlkonig and the Liszt Sonata now, too...