Six Violin Sonatas, Op. 27 - for Violin solo

This is an excellent edition of Ysaye's wonderful solo sonatas. Not only is this edition essentially free of errors (which cannot be said of the Durand edition), but it is beautifully laid out with fold outs that make page turns during a movement unnecessary. If you're ready to...

take on the challenge of these sonatas, this is the edition to get!

The difficulty is high, but the reward lies in the achievements and the beauty of the music. Begin with the second sonata. Don't even open to the first. If you are an amateur violinist, chances are, when you open the book, your first thought is to close it immediately...

. In spite of its difficulty, much of the music is very melodious and beautiful. My favorites are the 2nd and 5th sonatas. The 2nd, subtitled Obsession, is the most approachable, as the first movement is in Bach's style, and lacks double stops. The difficulty increases, but by the time the fourth movement is reached, there is an understanding of Ysaye's style, which increases the enjoyment of the work. (review continues.)