Edward Elgar

Ten Pieces for Violin and Piano Vol. 2

The three pieces that form op 4, Idylle, Pastourelle and Virelai, were published in 1883 with French titles to add glamour and appeal. All three works feature long, attractive melodies with well-developed accompaniments. The pair that form op 13, Mot d'Amour and Bizarrerie are more contrasting in nature. Mot d'Amour was composed to pair with Salut d'Amour, but was the less appealing of the two, while Bizarrerie has distinct Spanish elements and is suggested by the editor, Barry Collett, as a fine encore piece. Violin was, of course, Elgar's own instrument, and the writing is idiomatic and sensitively created for the instrument.