Usually in an ensemble (more than 1 player), the common practice is to play with score. Maybe they could play without score but that's not necessary to be criticise about. Also, this piece is originally for the tenor and piano in 1815 by Schubert( it's not a song one person can play). This violin & viola version (somewhere 1867-1881) is an arrangement based on the 1815 version by C.G. Wolff, instead of the violin solo version, which is also an arrangement made by Ernst in 1854. They are different arrangement. Technically, the solo version would be harder for the player, but the duet version would be much thicker in texture and in a way more complexity because you have two players instead of one. The 1815 version also had arrangements by a few composers substituting the piano with the orchestra. You are not expecting the orchestra to play without score just because the original pianist could have played without score, or because it was arranged for a solo violin which one person can play it, right?
95thRiflesOCI you're right. ONE person can play it, and her name is Hilary Hahn. It's darn near impossible to play this piece on a SINGLE stringed instrument.
