The work consists of two books. Each book opens with the theme, Paganini's Caprice No. 24 in A minor, followed by fourteen variations. The final variation in each section is virtuosic and climactic.
Brahms intended the work to be more than simply a set of theme and variations; each variation also has the characteristic of a study. He published it as Studies for Pianoforte: Variations on a Theme of Paganini. The work was dedicated to the piano virtuoso Carl Tausig. It is well known for its harmonic depth and extreme physical difficulty. A particular emphasis of the technical challenges lie on hand independence, with the left hand often mirroring the right hand throughout the piece or having its own set of obstacles.
David Dubal describes it as "a legend in the piano literature," [1] and "fiendish," "one of the most subtly difficult works in the literature."[2]Clara Schumann called it Hexenvariationen (Witch's Variations) because of its difficulty.[3] Dubal quotes critic James Huneker:
“Brahms and Paganini! Was ever so strange a couple in harness? Caliban and Ariel, Jove and Puck. The stolid German, the vibratile Italian! Yet fantasy wins, even if brewed in a homely Teutonic kettle ... These diabolical variations, the last word in the technical literature of the piano, are also vast spiritual problems. To play them requires fingers of steel, a heart of burning lava and the courage of a lion.[1]”
variations, theme, paganini, other, uses, disambiguation, work, piano, composed, 1863, johannes, brahms, based, caprice, minor, niccolò, paganini, paganini, theme, play, contents, structure, also, references, bibliography, external, linksstructure, editthe, wo. For other uses see Variations on a Theme of Paganini disambiguation 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 Niccolo Paganini Paganini s theme Play Contents 1 Structure 2 See also 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksStructure editThe work consists of two books Each book opens with the theme Paganini s Caprice No 24 in A minor followed by fourteen variations The final variation in each section is virtuosic and climactic Brahms intended the work to be more than simply a set of theme and variations each variation also has the characteristic of a study He published it as Studies for Pianoforte Variations on a Theme of Paganini The work was dedicated to the piano virtuoso Carl Tausig It is well known for its harmonic depth and extreme physical difficulty A particular emphasis of the technical challenges lie on hand independence with the left hand often mirroring the right hand throughout the piece or having its own set of obstacles David Dubal describes it as a legend in the piano literature 1 and fiendish one of the most subtly difficult works in the literature 2 Clara Schumann called it Hexenvariationen Witch s Variations because of its difficulty 3 Dubal quotes critic James Huneker Brahms and Paganini Was ever so strange a couple in harness Caliban and Ariel Jove and Puck The stolid German the vibratile Italian Yet fantasy wins even if brewed in a homely Teutonic kettle These diabolical variations the last word in the technical literature of the piano are also vast spiritual problems To play them requires fingers of steel a heart of burning lava and the courage of a lion 1 See also editList of variations on a theme by another composerReferences edit a b Dubal 2004 p 435 Dubal 2004 p 49 Swafford 1999 p 281 Bibliography editDubal David 2004 The Art of the Piano Its Performers Literature and Recordings 3rd ed Amadeus Press Swafford Jan 1999 Johannes Brahms A Biography New York Vintage Books Random House ISBN 978 0679745822 External links editPaganini Variations Book I Book II Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Beggerow Alan January 23 2014 Brahms Studies For Pianoforte Variations On A Theme Of Paganini Opus 35 Musical Musings Blog Hansen Kelly Dean January 9 2009 Opus 35 Listening Guide Variations on a theme of Paganini Studies for Piano Zhou Wenli 2012 Piano Variations by Liszt Brahms and Rachmaninoff on a Theme by Paganini PDF D M A Rice University Book 1 Book 2 played by Julius Katchen Variations on a Theme of Paganini selected played by Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Book 1 Book 2 played by Sviatoslav Richter Book 1 Book 2 played by Claudio Arrau Book 1 Book 2 played by Shura Cherkassky Book 1 played by Emil Gilels Variations on a Theme of Paganini selected played by Wilhelm Backhaus nbsp This article about a classical composition is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Variations on a Theme of Paganini amp oldid 1221773555, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
