Paganini, Niccolò, 1782-1840, Italian violinist, whose virtuosity became a legend. He extended the compass of the violin by his use of harmonics, perfected the use of double and triple stops, and revived the practice of scordatura, the diverse tunings of the strings. Paganini made his debut as a child prodigy in 1793 at Genoa, his birthplace. In 1801 he retired to a villa in Tuscany and did not resume his concerts until 1805, when he became court violinist to the princess of Lucca. After he left (1813) her court, his success in Milan carried his fame throughout Europe. His retirement in 1835 was followed by the loss of his voice and, later, by death from cancer of the larynx. Paganini composed numerous pieces, most of them bravura variations for violin. Among the few compositions published during his lifetime are the 24 caprices for violin that were adapted for piano by both Schumann and Liszt.

Caprice No. 24 in A minor is the final caprice of Niccolò Paganini's 24 Caprices, and a famous work for solo violin. The work, in the key of A minor, consists of a theme, 11 variations, and a finale.

It is widely considered one of the most difficult pieces written for the solo violin. It requires many highly advanced techniques such as parallel octaves and rapid shifting covering many intervals, extremely fast scales and arpeggios including minor scales in thirds and tenths, left hand pizzicato, high positions, and quick string crossing. As a result, many violinists after studying for many years still lack the technique required for such a demanding piece.

Covers

The caprice has provided a rich seam of material for works by subsequent composers. Compositions based on it, and transcriptions of it, include:

• Leopold Auer − arranged it for violin with piano accompaniment, and added some variations of his own
• BanYa - "Caprice of Otada" is based on Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini and is used in Pump it Up NX2
• James Barnes − "Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Niccolo Paganini", a wind band arrangement with each variation as a soli for a particular section
• Boris Blacher − Variations on a Theme by Paganini (1947), for orchestra
• Hans Bottermund − Variations on a Theme by Paganini
• Johannes Brahms − Variations on a Theme of Paganini , Op. 35 (1862-63), for solo piano (2 books)
• Luigi Dallapiccola − Sonatina canonica in mi bemolle maggiore su "Capricci" di Niccolo Paganini : per pianoforte (1946)
• Michael Fath − "24th Caprice" for solo electric guitar
• Eliot Fisk − transcribed all 24 Caprices for solo guitar
• Benny Goodman − Caprice XXIV
• The Great Kat − adapted the 24th Caprice for electric guitar
• Raaf Hekkema − Transcribed and Arranged it for solo Alto Saxophone
• Wiktor Labunski − "Four Variations on a Theme by Paganini," for solo piano
• Franz Liszt − the last of his Six Grandes Études de Paganini for solo piano, S.141 (1838, revised 1851)
• Andrew Lloyd Webber − Variations (1977), Variations (album) originally for cello and rock band, later also arranged for cello and orchestra; Song & Dance - the Dance part is a reworked version of Variations
• Paul Luongo − Adapted version of "Paganini's 24th Caprice" for solo ukulele
• Witold Lutosławski − Variations on a Theme by Paganini (1940-41), for two pianos; in 1978 he made a version for piano and orchestra
• Janice Martin − "Paganinimania", an arrangement of the 24th Caprice with orchestral accompaniment
• Nathan Milstein − Paganiniana, an arrangement of the 24th Caprice, with variations based on the other caprices
• Pavel Necheporenko - Variations on a Theme by Paganini, transcribed for unaccompanied balalaika.
• Simon Proctor − "Paganini Metamorphasis" for Solo Piano
• Frank Proto − Capriccio di Niccolo for Trumpet and Orchestra (1994). Nine Variants on Paganini for Double Bass and Orchestra, also for Double Bass and Piano (2001). Paganini in Metropolis for Clarinet and Wind Symphony (2001), also for Clarinet and Orchestra (2002).
• Sergei Rachmaninoff − Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 (1934), a set of twenty four variations for piano and orchestra
• Fazil Say − Paganini Variations for solo piano
• Stanisław Skrowaczewski − Concerto Nicolò for Piano Left Hand and Orchestra, 2003
• Joseph I. Vance − 'Variations on a Caprice', for 2 guitars, bass, and drums (composed May 2007)
• Philip Wilby − Paganini Variations, for both wind band and brass band
• Robert Muczynski - 'Desperate Measures' Paganini Variations Op. 48
• Karol Szymanowski : third caprice from "Three caprices about Paganini themes" for violin and piano (1918)
• Alison Balsom - Recorded a version transcribed for the trumpet.

References

External links

• PDF score of the 24th Caprice at the Werner Icking Music Archive in guitar arrangement
• YouTube video of Jascha Heifetz performance