For Bach I would recommend Brandenburgs #1, #2, #4, and #5, all of which
have prominent solo violin parts.  If you're into violins sounding in
groups as a complement to solo work I'd recommend the opp. 6 of Corelli
and Handel.  From more recent composers don't miss Henri Vieuxtemps (#4
will do for starters), Mieczyslaw Karlowicz (op. 8), Nikolai Rakov (#1),
and Gian Franceso Malipiero (#1).  Unfortunately I must list the two by
Shostakovich as among those works of his that I just don't like.  Another
interesting one you may try (definitely off the beaten track) is that of
Kaoru Koyama, which is featured on the same CD as my clarinet concerto
(VMM-3038).  If you're looking for tone poems with prominent violin solos
there's allways "Scheherezade" and "Ein Heldenleben."

Aaron J. Rabushka
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