42 études ou caprices

The 42 études ou caprices ("42 études or capriccios") for solo violin were composed by Rodolphe Kreutzer around 1796. Although Kreutzer was a prolific composer with some 50 stage works and dozens of other pieces to his credit, the 42 études remain his best known work and today are part of standard teaching repertoire.

The earliest extant edition of the collection, from 1807, comprises 40 pieces. Kreutzer's authorship is broadly accepted for two other études that were included in some early editions. One of Kreutzer's most important didactic goals was developing fluency in contraction and extension of the left hand; thus his pieces anticipate the challenges of the modern violin.

The collection's contents is as follows:

• No. 1 in A minor, Adagio sostenuto
• No. 2 in C major, Allegro moderato
• No. 3 in C major, Allegro moderato
• No. 4 in C major, [Allegro]
• No. 5 in E-flat major, Allegro moderato
• No. 6 in C major, Moderato e sempre martellato
• No. 7 in D major, Allegro assai
• No. 8 in E major, Allegro non troppo
• No. 9 in F major, Allegro moderato
• No. 10 in G major, Allegro
• No. 11 in E major, Andante
• No. 12 in A minor, Allegro moderato
• No. 13 in A major, Moderato
• No. 14 in A major, Moderato

• No. 15 in B-flat major, Allegro non troppo
• No. 16 in D major, Moderato
• No. 17 in B-flat major, Maestoso (Moderato)
• No. 18 in G major, Moderato
• No. 19 in D major, Moderato
• No. 20 in A major, Allegro
• No. 21 in D major, Moderato e sempre marcato
• No. 22 in A-flat major, Moderato
• No. 23 in B-flat major, Adagio (quasi Cadenza)
• No. 24 in G minor, Allegro
• No. 25 in G major, [Allegro moderato]
• No. 26 in E-flat major, Moderato
• No. 27 in D minor, Moderato
• No. 28 in E minor, Grave

• No. 29 in D major, Moderato
• No. 30 in B-flat major, Moderato
• No. 31 in C minor, Vivace
• No. 32 in F major, Andante
• No. 33 in F major, Andante
• No. 34 in D major, Moderato
• No. 35 in E-flat major, Marcia (Moderato)
• No. 36 in E minor, Allegretto
• No. 37 in F minor, Allegro vivace
• No. 38 in D major, Moderato
• No. 39 in A major, Allegretto
• No. 40 in B-flat major, Allegro
• No. 41 in F major, Adagio
• No. 42 in D minor, Allegro (Fuga)

References

• Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John, eds. (2001). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)‎

External links

• Free scores by 42 études ou caprices at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
• 42 études at Sheila's Corner: performance recommendations for each étude