Caprice No. 24 (Paganini)

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

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
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)^[1]
Alison Balsom - Recorded a version transcribed for the trumpet.