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Paganini began composing the caprices after completing his
study in Parma with Pietro Locatelli.[2]
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Caprice No. 2
The second caprice in B minor focuses on detache with many string crossings across non-adjacent
strings.
Caprice No. 3
Caprice No. 3 is a slurred legato exercise with octave trills in the introduction and conclusion.
Caprice No. 4
Caprice No. 5
This caprice focuses on fast ricochet bowings. It begins with a section of ascending arpeggios
followed by descending scales.
Caprice No. 6
The sixth caprice exploits the use of left-hand tremolo on the violin by quickly alternating between
different notes in the chord in one of the voices. A melody is played in one line with a tremolo
occurring on another.
Caprice No. 7
This caprice focuses on slurred staccato passages, featuring many long slurred scales and arpeggios.
Caprice No. 8
Caprice No. 9
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Nicknamed "La Chasse" or "The Hunt", the violin's A and E strings imitate the flutes ("Sulla tastiera
imitando il Flauto"), while the G & D strings imitate the horns ("imitando il Corno sulla D e G
corda"). Primarily a study in double stops, with ricochet occurring in the middle section.
Caprice No. 10
This caprice is primarily a study in up-bow staccato, with staccato notes punctuated by chords, trills
and distant string crossings.
Caprice No. 11
Caprice No. 12
This caprice consists of a slurred pattern of a melody on an upper string alternating with a drone note
on a bottom string, forcing the violinist to stretch great distances while keeping a finger on the drone
string.
Caprice No. 13
Caprice No. 14
The 14th caprice displays the violin's ability to voice chords. It contains many triple and quadruple
stops. Stylistically, the piece imitates brass fanfares.
Caprice No. 15
Caprice No. 16
Caprice No. 17
The "A" section contains numerous thirty-second note runs on the A and E strings that converse back
and forth with double stops on the lower two strings. The middle section is famous for the incredibly
difficult octave passage.
Caprice No. 18
The introduction to Caprice 18 demonstrates playing on the G string in very high positions. This is
followed by a rapid display of scales in thirds.
Caprice No. 19
Caprice No. 20
Caprice 20 is famous for the use of the D string as a drone, backdropping a lyrical melody on the A
and E strings. This is followed by a rapid sixteenth note passage with trills and flying staccato.
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Caprice No. 21
Caprice 21 begins with a very expressive, aria-like melody played in double-stopped sixths. This is
followed by a section of rapid up-bow staccato.
Caprice No. 22
Caprice No. 23
Caprice No. 23 begins with a melody in octaves in E-flat. The middle, contrasting section is a
formidable exercise in string crossings: it requires the violinist to play patterns of 3 sixteenth notes
on the G string and then cross quickly to play one on the E string, and then back to the G string, all at
a quick tempo.
Caprice No. 24
The theme from Caprice No. 24 is well known, and has been used as the basis for many pieces by a
wide variety of composers. This caprice uses a wide range of advanced techniques such as
horrendously fast scales and arpeggios, double and triple stops, left hand pizzicato, parallel octaves
and tenths, rapid shifting, and strings crossings.
References
1. ^ Urtext edition of the caprices is published by Peters.
24_Caprices_for_Solo_Violin,_Op.1_(Paganini,_Niccolò): Free scores at the International Music Score
Library Project.
2. ^ Stratton, p. 12
Sources
Stratton, Stephen (1907). Nicolo Paganini: his life and work. E. Shore & Co.. ISBN 0-55-980636-1.
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Categories: Compositions by Niccolò Paganini | Solo violin pieces
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