Caprice No. 24 in A minor is the final

caprice Caprice, from the Italian ''capriccio'', may refer to: Art and entertainment * ''Caprice'' (1913 film), a film starring Mary Pickford * ''Caprices'' (film), a 1942 French comedy film * ''Caprice'' (1967 film), a film starring Richard Harris ...

Niccolò Paganini Niccolò (or Nicolò) Paganini (; 27 October 178227 May 1840) was an Italian violinist and composer. He was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His 24 Caprices f ...

's 24 Caprices, and a famous work for solo

violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

. The caprice, in the key of

A minor A minor is a minor scale based on A, with the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has no flats and no sharps. Its relative major is C major and its parallel major is A major. The A natural minor scale is: : Changes ...

, consists of a

theme Theme or themes may refer to: * Theme (arts), the unifying subject or idea of the type of visual work * Theme (Byzantine district), an administrative district in the Byzantine Empire governed by a Strategos * Theme (computing), a custom graphical ...

, 11

variations Variation or Variations may refer to: Science and mathematics * Variation (astronomy), any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite, particularly of the moon * Genetic variation, the difference in DNA among individuals ...

, and a finale. His 24 Caprices were probably composed in 1807, while he was in the service of the Baciocchi court. It is widely considered one of the most difficult pieces ever written for the solo violin. It requires many highly advanced techniques such as parallel octaves and rapid shifting covering many

intervals Interval may refer to: Mathematics and physics * Interval (mathematics), a range of numbers ** Partially ordered set#Intervals, its generalization from numbers to arbitrary partially ordered sets * A statistical level of measurement * Interval est ...

, extremely fast scales and

arpeggio A broken chord is a chord broken into a sequence of notes. A broken chord may repeat some of the notes from the chord and span one or more octaves. An arpeggio () is a type of broken chord, in which the notes that compose a chord are played ...

s including

minor scale In music theory, the minor scale is three scale patterns – the natural minor scale (or Aeolian mode), the harmonic minor scale, and the melodic minor scale (ascending or descending) – rather than just two as with the major scale, which also ...

s, left hand

pizzicato Pizzicato (, ; translated as "pinched", and sometimes roughly as "plucked") is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a string instrument. The exact technique varies somewhat depending on the type of instrument : * On bowed ...

, high positions, and quick string crossings. Also, there are many

double stop In music, a double stop is the technique of playing two notes simultaneously on a stringed instrument such as a violin, a viola, a cello, or a double bass. On instruments such as the Hardanger fiddle it is common and often employed. In performin ...

s, including thirds and tenths.

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: * Angra – Used the main theme for an interlude on electric guitar on the song ''Angels Cry'', from the album of same name *

Aria In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...

– used as a basis for the main riff in the song ''Igra s ognyom'' (''Playing with Fire'') from the 1989 album of the same name. The plot of the song concerns a fictional violinist who is based on Paganini *

Leopold Auer Leopold von Auer ( hu, Auer Lipót; June 7, 1845July 15, 1930) was a Hungarian violinist, academic, conductor, composer, and instructor. Many of his students went on to become prominent concert performers and teachers. Early life and career Au ...

– arranged it for violin with piano accompaniment, and added some variations of his own * Rafał Augustyn - ''Paganini Variations'', for solo piano (1987–1989) (reference: www.polmic.pl) * Luc Baiwir – ''Variations on a Theme by Paganini'', for solo piano (2007) * David Baker – ''Ethnic Variations on a Theme of Paganini'', for violin and piano *

BanYa Banya may refer to: Places Australia * Banya, Queensland, a locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia Bulgaria *Banya, Blagoevgrad Province, a thermal spa and mountain resort in southwest Bulgaria *Banya, Burgas Prov ...

– ''Caprice of Otada'' is based on

Rachmaninoff's Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff; in Russian pre-revolutionary script. (28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one o ...

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini The ''Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini'', Op. 43, (russian: Рапсодия на тему Паганини, ''Rapsodiya na temu Paganini'') is a concertante work written by Sergei Rachmaninoff for piano and orchestra, closely resembling a piano ...

'' and is used in ''Pump it Up NX2'' *

Alison Balsom Alison Louise Balsom, Lady Mendes, (born 7 October 1978) is an English trumpet soloist, arranger, producer, and music educator. Balsom was awarded Artist of the Year at the 2013 Gramophone Awards and has won three Classic BRIT Awards and thre ...

– 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 solo for a particular section *

Isaak Berkovich Isaac was one of the patriarchs of the Abrahamic faiths. Isaac may also refer to: * Isaac (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname of Isaac and its variants Organizations * International Society ...

– ''Variations on a Theme by Paganini'', for solo piano (1950 ?) *

Boris Blacher Boris Blacher (30 January 1975) was a German composer and librettist. Life Blacher was born when his parents (of German-Estonian and Russian backgrounds) were living within a Russian-speaking community in the Manchurian town of Niuzhuang () (he ...

– ''Variations on a Theme by Paganini'' (1947), for orchestra * Hans Bottermund – ''Variations on a Theme by Paganini'', for cello solo *

Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid- Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped wit ...

– ''

Variations on a Theme of Paganini Variations on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 35, is a work for piano composed in 1863 by Johannes Brahms, based on the Caprice No. 24 in A minor by Niccolò Paganini. Brahms intended the work to be more than simply a set of theme and variations; e ...

'', Op. 35 (1862–63), for solo piano (2 books) *

Charles Camilleri Charles Camilleri (7 September 1931 – 3 January 2009) was a Maltese composer. Early life Camilleri was born in Ħamrun and, as a teenager, composed many works based on folk music and legends of his native Malta. Career Camilleri moved fro ...

– ''Paganiana'', for two pianos *

Frédéric Chopin Frédéric François Chopin (born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin; 1 March 181017 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period, who wrote primarily for solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown as a leadin ...

– quotes Niccolò Paganini's Caprice No. 24 in his '' Rondo à la Krakowiak'' and includes a variation on the quotation *

Keith Ramon Cole Keith may refer to: People and fictional characters * Keith (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters * Keith (surname) * Keith (singer), American singer James Keefer (born 1949) * Baron Keith, a line of Scottish barons ...

- ''Excursions for Bass Clarinet'', a series of variations on the main theme *

Eliot Fisk Eliot Hamilton Fisk (born August 10, 1954) is an American classical guitarist. Music career Education and teaching Fisk was born into a Quaker family in Philadelphia. He finished high school in DeWitt, New York, and then studied music at Yale Un ...

– transcribed all 24 Caprices for solo guitar * First Piano Quartet – ''Variations on a Theme of Paganini'', for four pianos, eight hands *

Ignaz Friedman Ignaz Friedman (also spelled ''Ignace'' or ''Ignacy''; full name ''Solomon (Salomon) Isaac Freudman(n)'', yi, שְׁלֹמֹה יִצְחָק פֿרײדמאַן; February 13, 1882January 26, 1948) was a Polish pianist and composer. Critics (e.g ...

– ''Studies on a Theme of Paganini'', Op. 47b (1914), for solo piano *

David Garrett David Christian Bongartz (born 4 September 1980), known by his stage name David Garrett, is a German classical and crossover violinist and recording artist. Early life When Garrett was four years old his father purchased a violin for his ol ...

– ''Paganini Rhapsody'' (2007) *

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

– ''Caprice XXIV'' *

The Great Kat Katherine Thomas (born June 6, 1966), best known by her stage name The Great Kat, is an American musician best known for her thrash metal interpretations of well-known pieces of classical music. Most feature her using the electric guitar, bu ...

– adapted the 24th Caprice for electric guitar *

Mark Hambourg Mark Hambourg (russian: Марк Михайлович Гамбург, 1 June 1879 – 26 August 1960) was a Russian British concert pianist. Life Mark Hambourg was the eldest son of the pianist Michael Hambourg (1855–1916), a pupil o ...

– ''Variations on a Theme of Paganini'' (1902), for solo piano *

Marc-André Hamelin Marc-André Hamelin, OC, CQ (born September 5, 1961), is a Canadian virtuoso pianist and composer. Hamelin is recognized worldwide for the originality and technical proficiency of his performances of the classic repertoire. He has received 11 Gr ...

– ''Variations on a Theme by Paganini'', for solo piano (2011) *

Helloween Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Weik ...

– Used in the opening guitar solo of ''Future World'' on the ''

High Live ''High Live'' is a live album released in video and audio formats in 1996 by the German power metal band Helloween. The video was re-released on DVD in 2002 by Sanctuary Records. Track listing Disc one Disc two Credits * Andi Deris - Vocal ...

'' album *

Toshi Ichiyanagi was a Japanese avant-garde composer and pianist. One of the leading composers in Japan during the postwar era, Ichiyanagi worked in a range of genres, composing Western-style operas and orchestral and chamber works, as well as compositions using ...

– ''Paganini Personal'', for marimba and piano *

Lowell Liebermann Lowell Liebermann (born February 22, 1961 in New York City) is an American composer, pianist and conductor. Life and career At the age of sixteen, Liebermann performed at Carnegie Hall, playing his Piano Sonata, op. 1. He studied at the Juilliar ...

– ''Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini'', for piano and orchestra (2001) *

JJ Lin Wayne Lin Junjie (; born 27 March 1981), better known by his stage name JJ Lin, is a Singaporean singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Lin launched his musical career by releasing his debut album ''Music Voyager'' (2003). GIO, Taiwa1 ...

– ''Variation 25: Clash of The Souls'', a song from album '' Lost N Found'' (2011) *

Franz Liszt Franz Liszt, in modern usage ''Liszt Ferenc'' . Liszt's Hungarian passport spelled his given name as "Ferencz". An orthographic reform of the Hungarian language in 1922 (which was 36 years after Liszt's death) changed the letter "cz" to simpl ...

– the sixth and last of his ''

Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini Études is French for "studies". It is used as a name for several music or dance works, including: * ''Études'' (Chopin), three sets of studies for the piano by Frédéric Chopin, composed between 1829 and 1839 * ''Études'' (Debussy), a set of 1 ...

'' for solo piano, S.140 (1838) – revised and republished in 1851 as '' Six Grandes Études de Paganini'', S.141 *

Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948), is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musicals, ...

– ''Variations'' (1977), '' Variations (album)'' originally for cello and

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band, and used as the theme for ''

The South Bank Show ''The South Bank Show'' is a British television arts magazine series originally produced by London Weekend Television and broadcast on ITV between 1978 and 2010. A new version of the series began 27 May 2012 on Sky Arts. Conceived, written, ...

'', later also arranged for cello and orchestra; ''Song & Dance'' – the Dance part is a reworked version of Variations *

David Ludwig David Ludwig may refer to: * David Ludwig (physician), American physician * David Ludwig (composer) (born 1974), American composer {{Hndis, Ludwig, David ...

– ''Violin Concerto No. 2: Paganiniana'', (2018) for violin and Pierrot Ensemble *

Witold Lutosławski Witold Roman Lutosławski (; 25 January 1913 – 7 February 1994) was a Polish composer and conductor. Among the major composers of 20th-century classical music, he is "generally regarded as the most significant Polish composer since Szyman ...

– '' Variations on a Theme by Paganini'', for two pianos (1940–41) or for piano and orchestra (1978) *

Yngwie Malmsteen Yngwie Johan Malmsteen ( ; born Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck, 30 June 1963) is a Swedish guitarist. He first became known in the 1980s for his neoclassical playing style in heavy metal, and has released 22 studio albums in a career spanning ov ...

– Used the main theme for an interlude on electric guitar on the song ''Prophet of Doom'', from his album ''

War to End All Wars "The war to end war" (also "The war to end all wars"; originally from the 1914 book '' The War That Will End War'' by H. G. Wells) is a term for the First World War of 1914–1918. Originally an idealistic slogan, it is now mainly used sardonic ...

'' * Nikolai Managazze - ''Paganiniana'' (2014) *

Denis Matsuev Denis Leonidovich Matsuev ( rus, Дени́с Леони́дович Мацу́ев /ma'tsujef/; born June 11, 1975) is a Russian classical pianist and occasional jazz performer. Biography Born in Irkutsk, Soviet Union, Matsuev is the only child o ...

– ''Caprice No. 24 variations'', Denis Matsuev Quartet, jazz (2010) *

Nathan Milstein Nathan Mironovich Milstein ( – December 21, 1992) was a Russian-born American virtuoso violinist. Widely considered one of the finest violinists of the 20th century, Milstein was known for his interpretations of Bach's solo violin works and ...

– ''Paganiniana'', an arrangement for solo violin of the 24th Caprice, with variations based on the other caprices *

Robert Muczynski Robert Muczynski (March 19, 1929 – May 25, 2010) was a Polish-American composer. Muczynski studied piano with Walter Knupfer and composition with Alexander Tcherepnin at DePaul University in Chicago, where he received both his Bachelor of M ...

– ''Desperate Measures'' Paganini Variations, Op.48 * Pavel Necheporenko – ''Variations on a Theme by Paganini'' transcribed for unaccompanied

balalaika The balalaika (russian: link=no, балала́йка, ) is a Russian stringed musical instrument with a characteristic triangular wooden, hollow body, fretted neck and three strings. Two strings are usually tuned to the same note and the thir ...

Jeff Nelsen Jeff Nelsen (born December 11, 1969) is a Canadian French horn player and is Professor of Horn at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. He has performed in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony, the Ne ...

– Performed Caprice No. 24 on French Horn with

Canadian Brass The Canadian Brass is a Canadian brass quintet formed in 1970 in Toronto, Ontario, by Charles Daellenbach (tuba) and Gene Watts (trombone), with horn player Graeme Page and trumpeters Stuart Laughton and Bill Phillips completing the quintet. , ...

* Paolo Pessina – ''Paganini Variations'', for Violin (and Piano 'ad libitum') "to Ruggiero Ricci", Op. 25 (1997) *

Gregor Piatigorsky Gregor Piatigorsky (, ''Grigoriy Pavlovich Pyatigorskiy''; August 6, 1976) was a Russian Empire-born American cellist. Biography Early life Gregor Piatigorsky was born in Ekaterinoslav (now Dnipro, Ukraine) into a Jewish family. As a child, ...

– ''Variations on a Paganini Theme'', for cello and orchestra (1946), later arranged for cello and piano *

Simon Proctor Simon Proctor (born 1959) is a British composer and pianist, known for his works for unusual instruments.Frank Proto Frank Proto (born July 18, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American composer and bassist. He was a double bass student of Fred Zimmermann and David Walter. He is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music in 1966 with a Master of Music. A self ...

– ''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) *

Manuel Quiroga Manuel López-Quiroga Miquel (January 30, 1899 – December 13, 1988), better known as Maestro Quiroga, was a Spanish composer especially known for his '' coplas'', ''cuplés'', and ''zarzuelas''. He was also a pianist and one of the group of ...

– ''9 Variations on Paganini's Caprice No. 24'', ''12 Variations on Paganini's Caprice No. 24'', both for violin and piano *

Sergei Rachmaninoff Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff; in Russian pre-revolutionary script. (28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one o ...

– ''

'', Op. 43 (1934), a set of 24 variations for

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...

and

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, c ...

George Rochberg George Rochberg (July 5, 1918May 29, 2005) was an American composer of contemporary classical music. Long a serial composer, Rochberg abandoned the practice following the death of his teenage son in 1964; he claimed this compositional technique ...

– ''50 Caprice Variations'' for solo violin (1970) * Alexander Rosenblatt – ''Variations on Theme of Paganini'', for solo piano (1988) *

Poul Ruders Poul Ruders (born 27 March 1949) is a Danish composer. Life Born in Ringsted, Ruders trained as an organist, and studied orchestration with Karl Aage Rasmussen. Ruders's first compositions date from the mid-1960s. Ruders regards his own compositi ...

– ''Paganini Variations: Guitar Concerto No. 2'' (1999–2000), 22 variations for

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

and

* Ehsan Saboohi – ''Metamorphosis on Theme of Paganini'', for solo piano (2009) *

Fazıl Say Fazıl Say (; born 14 January 1970 in Ankara) is a Turkish pianist and composer. Life and career Fazıl Say was born in 1970. His father, Ahmet Say was an author and musicologist. His mother, Gürgün Say was a pharmacist. His grandfather Fa ...

– ''Paganini Jazz'' in ''Say Plays Say'', for solo piano (1988) *

Stanisław Skrowaczewski Stanislaw Pawel Stefan Jan Sebastian Skrowaczewski (; October 3, 1923 – February 21, 2017) was a Polish-American classical conductor and composer. Biography Skrowaczewski was born in Lwów, Second Polish Republic (now Lviv, Ukraine). His pa ...

– ''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 ''Guitar Dominance!'' is the first studio album by guitarist Joe Stump, released in 1993 through Leviathan Records; a remastered edition was reissued in 2003.''Guitar Dominance!'' (CD edition liner notes). Critical reception Robert Taylor at Al ...

''. The track also incorporates elements from Paganini's 5th Caprice *

Karol Szymanowski Karol Maciej Szymanowski (; 6 October 188229 March 1937) was a Polish composer and pianist. He was a member of the modernist Young Poland movement that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th century. Szymanowski's early works show the inf ...

– No. 3 from ''Trzy kaprysy Paganiniego'' (''3 Caprices de Paganini''), Op. 40 (1918); transcriptions for violin and pianoKarol Szymanowski – by Neal Galanter
/ref> *

George Thalben-Ball Sir George Thomas Thalben-Ball (18 June 1896 – 18 January 1987) was an Australian organist and composer who spent almost all his life in England. Early life George Thomas Ball (he later took the additional name of "Thalben") was born in Sydn ...

– ''Variations on a Theme of Paganini'', theme and 10 variations for

Pipe organ The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air (called ''wind'') through the organ pipes selected from a keyboard. Because each pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ''ranks ...

. All except the last variation are for solo organ pedals *

Philip Wilby Philip Wilby (born Pontefract, 1949) is a British composer, organist and choir director. Education Educated at Leeds Grammar School and Keble College, Oxford, he joined the staff at the University of Leeds as a Lecturer in the Department of Music ...

– ''Paganini Variations'', for both wind band and brass band *

Victor Wooten Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an American bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He has been the bassist for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since the group's formation in 1988 and a member of the band SMV with two other ...

– ''Classical Thump'', ''A Show Of Hands'' *

Eugène Ysaÿe Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe (; 16 July 185812 May 1931) was a Belgian virtuoso violinist, composer, and conductor. He was regarded as "The King of the Violin", or, as Nathan Milstein put it, the "tsar". Legend of the Ysaÿe violin Eugène Ysaÿe ...

– ''Variations on Paganini's Caprice No. 24'', for violin and piano, Op. posthumous

References

External links

PDF score of the 24th Caprice at the Werner Icking Music Archive
(arranged for guitar) {{Authority control Paganini Caprice 24 Caprice 24 Compositions in A minor Articles containing video clips 1817 compositions

Variations on the theme

See also

References

External links