24 Capricen für Violine solo op. 1

Goethe wrote that after experiencing a Paganini concert, he had heard something meteoric and was unable to understand it. It was not until late in his career that Paganini became widely known outside his native Italy. He made his first tour in 1828 and returned to Italy for good in 1834. The impression he made during these years had a profound effect, not only on the course of violin technique but also on how virtuosity in general could be incorporated into serious composition. His influence can be felt in music from Liszt and Schumann through Brahms to Rachmaninov, among others who have used themes from these Caprices directly. The 24 Caprices were probably composed around 1805 and likely not for public performance. They provide a compendium of Paganini's technique, including extraordinary velocity, a variety of bowing styles (balzato, spiccato, martellato, etc.), passages in thirds, sixths, octaves, and tenths, multiple stopping (up to quadruple), double trilling, left-hand pizzicato, and the imitation of other instruments (flute, guitar, and horn). No violinist should be without this classic Edition Peters Urtext edition of one of the most important works for the instrument.