Recommend Pieces for DB, Violin, Piano

[Uncle Lee]

I have the opportunity coming up to rehearse some classical pieces and perform them in a relaxed social setting with a friend who plays violin, and another who plays piano.

What are some pieces for violin, cello and piano that can easily be arranged to include DB rather than cello? I will probably have to play them down an octave, as I am still "approaching" rather than "exploring" thumb position ... I can reasonably play the octave on each string, but no further really. I am thinking pieces where the violin has most of the melody, and the cello (DB) plays mostly harmony.

Any suggestions welcome. At this stage we are considering Schubert's Piano Trio No. 2 in Eb, D. 929 Op. 100 (2nd Movement). What else could work?

Thanks in advance!

[Uncle Lee]

Anyone?

[tbassist4]

Hmm, I'm not quite sure about any pieces in that instrumentation. You might have to get pieces for a string trio with piano and change up the parts, but I don't think I know of any pieces with just violin, cello, and piano, but that's just probably my lack of experience. I'd recommend getting a piece for string trio, and have the piano focus heavily on the viola part to harmonize, and leave the violin for the violin, and the cello for you. The pianist could also analyze the chords and make up the accompaniment, or the pianist could just play the three parts at the same time, I think the latter would be the best option. Sorry, I know I did't help much, but that's all I can think of, good luck!

[bejoyous]

Hi Uncle Lee;

You can do just about any Baroque violin sonota or other violin piece or just about any piece for a melody instrument and a piano part.

Just stand behind the piano player and play the bass line of their part. The trick is to learn to read at pitch rather than the usual octave up. Also, don't play every note he/she is playing, just the first note of an arpeggio for example. This might take a bit of harmonic analysis but most music is just the basic chords anyway.

I do this with my wife when we play at church in the summertime. She'll be accompianing a flautist or a singer and I'll play the occational half-note or quarter note pizzicato and people will come up an enthusiastically say how much the bass improves the piece!

Less is more

Good luck