Caprice No. 24 (Paganini): Difference between revisions

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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, most violinists even after studying for many years still lack the technique required for such a demanding piece.

Variations on the Theme

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
Alison Balsom - Recorded a version transcribed for trumpet
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)
Keith Ramon Cole - Excursions, Variations on a Theme of Paganini for solo bass clarinet (1978)
Luigi Dallapiccola − Sonatina canonica in mi bemolle maggiore su "Capricci" di Niccolo Paganini : per pianoforte (1946)
Michael Faith − "24th Caprice" for solo electric guitar
Eliot Fisk − transcribed all 24 Caprices for solo guitar
Ignaz Friedman - Studies on a Theme of Paganini, op.47b (1914)
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 - Grande Fantaisie de bravoure sur La Clochette for solo piano. S.420 (1832-4)
Franz Liszt − the sixth and last of his Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini for solo piano, S.140 (1838)
Franz Liszt - the above work (S.140/6) was revised and simplified in 1850 as the sixth and last of the Six Grandes Études de Paganini for solo piano, S.141)
Franz Liszt - Grand Fantaisie (Variations) sur des thèmes de Paganini for solo piano, S.700
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
Robert Muczynski - 'Desperate Measures' Paganini Variations Op. 48
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
Joe Stump - Used the main theme for an interpretation on the song 'Paganini's Revenge' on the album Guitar Dominance. The track also incorporates elements from Paganini's 5th Caprice.
Karol Szymanowski : third caprice from "Three caprices about Paganini themes" for violin and piano (1918)^[1]
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
Yngwie Malmsteen - Used the main theme for an interlude on electric guitar on the song Prophet of Doom, from his album War to End All Wars.

References

^ Karol Szymanowski - by Neal Galanter

External links

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

This article about a classical composition is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Karol Szymanowski - by Neal Galanter

[1]

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 * [[Boris Blacher]] − ''Variations on a Theme by Paganini'' (1947), for orchestra
 * [[Hans Bottermund]] − ''Variations on a Theme by Paganini''
-* [[Johannes Brahms]] − ''[[Paganini Variations (Brahms)|Variations on a Theme of Paganini ]]'', Op. 35 ([[1862]]-[[1863|63]]), for solo piano (2 books)
+* [[Johannes Brahms]] − ''[[Paganini Variations (Brahms)|Variations on a Theme of Paganini ]]'', Op. 35 (1862-[[1863|63]]), for solo piano (2 books)
-* [[Keith Ramon Cole]] - ''Excursions, Variations on a Theme of Paganini'' for solo bass clarinet ([[1978]])
+* [[Keith Ramon Cole]] - ''Excursions, Variations on a Theme of Paganini'' for solo bass clarinet (1978)
-* [[Luigi Dallapiccola]] − Sonatina canonica in mi bemolle maggiore su "Capricci" di Niccolo Paganini : per pianoforte ([[1946]])
+* [[Luigi Dallapiccola]] − Sonatina canonica in mi bemolle maggiore su "Capricci" di Niccolo Paganini : per pianoforte (1946)
 * [[Michael Faith]]  − "24th Caprice" for solo electric guitar
 * [[Eliot Fisk]] − transcribed all 24 Caprices for solo guitar
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 * [[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]]
+* [[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]]
+* [[Stanisław Skrowaczewski]] − Concerto Nicolò for Piano Left Hand and Orchestra, 2003
 * [[Joe Stump]] - Used the main theme for an interpretation on the song 'Paganini's Revenge' on the album ''[[Guitar Dominance]]''. The track also incorporates elements from Paganini's [[Caprice_No._5_(Paganini)|5th Caprice]].
 * [[Karol Szymanowski]] : third caprice from "Three caprices about Paganini themes" for violin and piano (1918)<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/go/polish_music/composer/szymanowski_galanter.html Karol Szymanowski - by Neal Galanter<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>