For Grown-Ups

Find examples of the various ‘Solo’ materials to describe the influences that they have on you when listening! Consider how the soloist is different from the accompanying players. Listen for the unique quality that the soloist displays with their artistic flair and technical brilliance.

Unaccompanied Solo Pieces:
Piano – Chopin, Etudes

Violin – Bach, Unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas

Cello – Bach Solo Suites

Solo with accompaniment:
Concerto – A piece written for generally one but occasionally more instrumental musicians that is intended to be performed accompanied by an orchestra.

Violin – Mozart, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Bach, Haydn, Tchaikovsky

Viola – Hindemith, Walton, Schnittke, Bartok

Cello – Popper, Dvorak, Haydn, Saint-Saens, Klengel

Piano – Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Schumann

Double Bass – Bottesini, Koussevitsky

Flute – Penderecki, Nielsen, Arnold, John WIlliams

Oboe – Vaughan Williams, Zimmermann, Martinu

Bassoon – Hetu, Davies
Clarinet – Copland, Hindemith, Stravinsky

Harp – Handel, Gliere, Villa-Lobos

Horn – Strauss, Ligeti, Penderecki

Trombone – Holboe, Milhaud, Rota, Tomasi

Trumpet – Perry, Arnold, Haydn

Tuba – Williams, Holmboe

Vocal Solos: ‘Arias’ represent the operatic or choral version of solo passages for the soloist and chorus.
“ O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’ from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi

“ Si, mi chiamano Mimi” from Puccini’s La Boheme

“ Recondita Armonia” from Puccini’s Tosca

“ Viens, Mallika” (The Flower Duet) from the Opera Lakme

“ Habanera” from, Bizet’s Carmen

“Torreador Song” from Bizet’s Carmen

“ Klange Der Heimat” (Czardas) from Die Fledermaus by Strauss

“Largo al factotum” (Figaro) from The Barber of Seville by Rossini

Jazz Solos:

In many Jazz performances, each number will alternate ensemble sections with solo sections where one performer is playing either completely alone, or with subtle accompaniment from others. An example would be that of the rhythm section of jazz bands.

Experience this improvisational element in Dixieland jazz, bebop and free jazz performers, like that of Charlie Parker, Keith Jarett and Miles Davis.

North American Pop Soloists:

John Lennon, Billy Joel, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Patti LaBelle, Maria Carey, Alisha Keyes, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston.