'You were often on my mind when I was writing', wrote Robert Schumann to Joseph Joachim who had encouraged him to write this concerto. In view of Schumann's illness, however, Joachim began to have his doubts about the value of the work. In his will, Joachim prohibited the first performance until the 100th anniversary of Schumann's death in 1956. After detailed editorial work, the premiere was brought forward to 1937.

The theme of the middle movement probably formed the basis of Schumann's Geistervariationen ('Ghost Variations'), the character of the third movement is that of a grand polonaise. Yehudi Menuhin who performed the world premiere of the unedited version of Schumann's solo part saw in this piece 'the bridge between Beethoven's and Brahms' concertos'.

Viktor Kosenko (1896-1938) was a Soviet Ukrainian pianist and composer. He wrote mainly for his two instruments, the piano and the violin, including concerti for both instruments. In the early 1930s, sensing a void in the educational offerings for children, Kosenko began to write beautiful, yet simple tunes for his piano students. The arranger fond these works suitable for the violin (there is a viola version available as well). Melody, Olden Dance, Scherzino and March all take abut six minutes to perform and are excellent recital works for young violinists. All four are playable in first position in friendly keys like A Minor, G Major, D Minor and D Major.