The 24 Caprices for Solo Violin were written in groups (six, six and twelve) by Niccolò Paganini between 1802 and 1817. They are also designated as M.S. 25 in Maria Rosa Moretti's and Anna Sorrento's Catalogo tematico delle musiche di Niccolò Paganini which was published in 1982. The Caprices are in the form of études, with each number exploring different skills (double stopped trills, extremely fast switching of positions and strings, etc.)
Ricordi first published them in 1820, where they were grouped and numbered from 1 to 24 as Op. 1, together with 12 Sonatas for Violin and Guitar (Opp. 2 and 3) and 6 Guitar Quartets (Opp. 4 and 5). When Paganini released his Caprices, he dedicated them "alli artisti" (to the artists) rather than to a specific person. A sort of dedication can be recognized in Paganini's own score, where he annotated between 1832 and 1840 the following 'dedicatee' for each Caprice (possibly ready for a new printed edition): 1: Henri Vieuxtemps; 2: Giuseppe Austri; 3: Ernesto Camillo Sivori; 4: Ole Bornemann Bull; 5: Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst; 6: Karol Józef Lipiński; 7: Franz Liszt; 8: Delphin Alard; 9: Herrmann; 10: Théodor Haumann; 11: Sigismond Thalberg; 12: Dhuler; 13: Charles Philippe Lafont; 14: Jacques Pierre Rode; 15: Louis Spohr; 16: Rodolphe Kreutzer; 17: Alexandre Artôt; 18: Antoine Bohrer; 19: Andreas Jakob Romberg; 20: Carlo Gignami; 21: Antonio Bazzini; 22: Luigi Alliani; 23: [no name]; 24: Nicolò Paganini, sepolto pur troppo (to my self, regrettably buried).
Ferdinand David's first edition was published by Breitkopf & Härtel in 1854. David, as editor, also issued an edition of Caprices with piano accompaniments by Robert Schumann. Another edition by David was issued in two books of 12 caprices each "mit hinzugefügter Begleitung des Pianoforte von Ferdinand David" (with additional piano accompaniment by Ferdinand David) and published by Breitkopf & Härtel (c. 1860).
Unlike many earlier and later sets of 24 pieces, there was no intention to write these caprices in 24 different keys.
Caprice No.1 in E major "Arpeggios" (Andante)Caprice No.2 in B minor (Moderato)Caprice No.3 in E minor "Octaves" (Sostenuto – Presto – Sostenuto)Caprice No.4 in C minor "Thirds" (Maestoso)Caprice No.5 in A minor (Agitato)Caprice No.6 in G minor "The Trill / Tremolo" (Lento)Caprice No.7 in A minor (Posato)Caprice No.8 in E-flat major (Maestoso)Caprice No.9 in E major "The Hunt / La chasse" (Allegretto)Caprice No.10 in G minor (Vivace)Caprice No.11 in C major (Andante – Presto – Andante)Caprice No.12 in A-flat major (Allegro)Caprice No.13 in B-flat major "The Devil's Laughter" (Allegro)Caprice No.14 in E-flat major (Moderato)Caprice No.15 in E minor (Posato)Caprice No.16 in G minor (Presto)Caprice No.17 in E-flat major (Sostenuto – Andante)Caprice No.18 in C major (Corrente – Allegro)Caprice No.19 in E-flat major (Lento – Allegro assai)Caprice No.20 in D major (Allegretto)Caprice No.21 in A major (Amoroso – Presto)Caprice No.22 in F major (Marcato)Caprice No.23 in E-flat major (Posato – Minore – Posato)Caprice No.24 in A minor (Tema. Quasi presto – Variazioni I–XI – Finale)Critical edition by Franco Gulli (Ed. Curci, 1982)Critical edition by Renato de Barbieri (Urtext, 1990)Violin and piano
version of No. 24 by Composer himself, for violin and piano (or guitar) published separately as Variazioni di bravurapiano accompaniments for Nos. 1–23 by Robert Schumann (1855)arrangement of Nos. 1–24 by Ferdinand David for violin and piano (c. 1860)version of the 24 caprices "avec accompagnement de pianoforte" by John Liptrot Hatton (1870)piano accompaniment (concertante role) for Nos. 1–24 by Russian violinist Vasily Bezekirsky (1898)arrangement of No. 13 by Jenő Hubay (c. 1925)arrangement of Nos. 13, 20 and 24 by Fritz Kreisler (1911) / re-arranged by Yo-Yo Ma for cello and pianoarrangement of Nos. 17 and 24 by Leopold Auer (1922)arrangement of No. 6 by George Enescuarrangement of No. 9 "La chasse" by Jacques Thibaudarrangement of No. 9 and 23 by Florizel von Reuterarrangement of No. 9 by Albert Spalding (1918)arrangement of Nos. 17 (1926), 9, 13, 19 (1941) and 24 (1918) by Adolf Buscharrangement (recomposition with new variations) of No. 24 by Mischa Elmanarrangement of Nos. 13, 22, 14 (Vol. I), Nos. 21, 15, 9 (Vol. II) and Nos. 20, 24 (Vol. III) by Mario Pilati (1935)arrangement of Nos. 13, 17, 24 by Zino Francescatti (1950s)re-composition of No. 20 as Concert Caprice by Max Rostal (1955)arrangement of Nos. 13, 20 and 24 by Waclaw Niemczyk (1965)Violin and orchestra
orchestral accompaniments for Nos. 1–23 by Laszlo Meszlény, based on the piano accompaniments by Robert Schumannorchestral accompaniment for No. 24 by Chris Nicholls, based on the original guitar accompaniment by PaganiniViolin and string orchestra
arrangement of Nos. 13, 24 by Jascha Heifetz, No. 24 is based on Leopold Auer's piano arrangement (1940s)arrangement of Nos. 2, 21, 20, 9, 24 as Five Paganini Caprices by Edison Denisov (1985)string orchestra accompaniment for Nos. 1–24 by Giedrius Kuprevičiusedition of Nos. 1–24 incorporating accompaniments for a second violin by Alberto Bachmann (1921)arrangement of Nos. 1–24 by Luigi Silva (1952)arrangement of Nos. 9, 14, 17 by Yo-Yo Ma (1981/82)arrangement of Nos. 1–24 by Tamás Mérei (1999)arrangement of Nos. 5 and 13 by William Primrose (1933/34)arrangement of Nos. 1–24 by Emanuel Vardi (1965)Viola and piano
arrangements of No.17 by William Primrose and No.24 by David Stimerarrangement of Nos. 1–24 by Jules Herman (1980s)arrangement of Nos. 1–24 by Patrick Gallois (1990/91)arrangement of Nos. 1–24 by Julian Cawdrey (1996/97)arrangement for alto saxophone (Nos. 1, 5–11, 13, 16, 20, 21, 23–24) and soprano saxophone (Nos. 2–4, 12, 14, 15, 17–19, 22) by Raaf Hekkema (2004/05)arrangement for bassoon solo (Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 23 & 24) by Kristian Oma Rønnes, published by Emerson Edition Ltd (2016)arrangement of No. 24 by John Williamsarrangement of Nos. 1–24 by Eliot Fisk (1990/91)arrangement of Nos. 1–24 by William Zinn (2008/09)Clarinet and jazz band
arrangement of No. 24 by Skip Martin and Benny Goodman (1941)arrangement of No. 24 by Adolf Busch (1918?)Especially for compositions in the form of "Variations" see the related article: Caprice No. 24 (Paganini)#Variations on the theme.
9 variaciones sobre el capricho núm. 24 de Paganini by Manuel Quiroga (1928)12 variaciones sobre el capricho núm. 24 de Paganini by Manuel Quiroga (1942)Paganiniana, Variations for violin solo (Tema: Caprice 24; Var. I: Caprice 3; Var. II: Le Streghe; Var. III: Caprice 6; Var. IV: Caprice 14; Var. V: Caprice 21) by Nathan Milstein (1954)50 Caprice Variations (on Caprice No. 24) by George Rochberg (1970)Violin and piano
Paganini Variations on the 24th caprice by Eugène Ysaÿe (posthumous ed. 1960)Trois caprices de Paganini Op. 40 (re-composition of Nos. 20, 21 and 24) by Karol Szymanowski (1918; rev.1926)Trois caprices de Paganini Op. 97 (re-composition of Nos. 10, 13 and 22) by Darius Milhaud (1927)Violin and orchestra
Capriccio dei Capricci (da Paganini, 2 Studi per orchestra di virtuosi), Op. 50, by Franco Mannino (1967)Etudes after Paganini Caprices, Op. 3 (on Caprices Nos. 5, 9, 11, 13, 19, 16) by Robert Schumann (1832)6 Concert Etudes after Paganini Caprices, Op. 10 (on Caprices Nos. 14, 6, 10, 4, 2, 3) by Robert Schumann (1833)Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini, S. 140 (on Caprices Nos. 5+6, 17, 1, 9, 24) by Franz Liszt (1838/40)Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141 (on Caprices Nos. 6, 17, 1, 9, 24) by Franz Liszt (1851)Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35 (Book I & II)] (on Caprice No. 24) by Johannes Brahms (1862/63)Sonatina Canonica in E♭ major (on Caprices Nos. 20, 19, 11, 14) by Luigi Dallapiccola (1942/43)Variations on a Theme by Paganini (on Caprice No. 24) by Witold Lutosławski (1941)Piano and orchestra
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, (on Caprice No. 24) by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1934)Wariacje na temat Paganiniego (on Caprice No. 24) by Witold Lutosławski (1941; rescored 1979)re-composition of various Paganini's works as Paganiniana, Op. 65: I. Allegro agitato (on Caprices Nos. 5, 12 and fragments from Nos. 16, 19) by Alfredo Casella (1942)Paganini Variations, Op. 26 (on Caprice No. 24) by Boris Blacher (1947)In 1940, to celebrate the centenary of Paganini's death, the complete set in the arrangement for violin and piano by Ferdinand David was recorded by the 20-year-old Austrian violinist Ossy Renardy (pseudonym of Oskar Reiss), with Walter Robert on piano (78 rpm's, RCA Victor; CD reprint by Biddulph). This was the world premiere recording of any version of the 24 Caprices. Renardy had played the solo violin version of the 24 in his Carnegie Hall debut the previous October. In 1953, shortly before his untimely death, Renardy recorded the 24 again (on Paganini's Guarnieri del Gesù violin, 'Il Cannone'), in the same arrangement by David, with Eugene Helmer accompanying (2LPs, Remington R-99-146 & R-99-152).
In 1947, Ruggiero Ricci made the first complete recording of the 24 Caprices in their original version (Decca). Ricci later made further recordings, as stated below:
1947 | 2LPs | Decca LK.4025 [Nos.1–12]; LXT.2588 [Nos.13–24] mono; 1950 reprint | 2LPs | London Decca LL.264 [Nos.1–12]; LL.252 [Nos.13–24] mono (London, July 1947)1959 | LP | Decca LXT.5569 mono / SXL.2194 stereo (Victoria Hall, Geneva, 1–9 April 1959)1973 | LP | Vox Turnabout TV-S 34528 | + premiere recording of Caprice d'adieu in E major, MS 68 (USA, 1973)1978 | 2LP | Price-Less C–93042 | "Golden Jubilee" – recorded direct-to-disc at Soundstage Recording Studio, Toronto, Canada | + Caprice d'adieu in E major, MS 68 + Duo merveille in C major, MS 6 (Toronto, 1978)1988 | CD | Radio Vaticana 061–003 / Biddulph LAW 016 | performed on Paganini's Guarneri del Gesù "Il Cannone" (Genova, 16–20 April 1988)1998 | CD | Dynamic CDS244 | 80th Birthday Concert, live in Szeged Synagogue, Hungary | version for violin and orchestra by Laszlo Meszlény (Nos.1–23) and Chris Nicholls (No.24), based on the piano accompaniment composed by Robert Schumann (Hungary, 17 May 1998)1987 | VHS-NTSC | Shar Products Company RR–1 (Michigan University, 10 January 1987) | unedited performance1980s | LaserDisc-NTSC | One Eleven, Ltd. URS V-91610 | 69 mins. live television performance (p)1991Other violinists have since recorded the complete set, including:
Accardo, Salvatore (1st rec: RCA Italia, 1970 / 2nd rec: DGG, 1977 / 3rd rec: Foné, 2002)Augustyn, Kinga (RovenRecords, 2016)Barbieri, Renato de (Fonit Cetra Italia, 1981) – from the original Paganini's manuscriptBecker-Bender, Tanja (Hyperion, 2007)Benvenuti, Alessio (Ludwig Classica, 1997) – private issue with no catalogue numberBologni, Alberto (Italian issue – Sheva Collection, 2010)Boulier, Christophe (French issue – DVD Promusica, 2004) – this video DVD contains extensive bonus material including a presentation of the caprices with technical explanations and demonstrationsBradley, Desmond (EMI Classics For Pleasure, 1967)Chumachenco, Nicolas (Edelweiss, 1982)Francesca Dego – (DGG, 2012)Ehnes, James (1st rec: Telarc, 1995 / 2nd rec: Onyx, 2009) – unedited performance, each caprice recorded in a single takeEpstein, Joshua (Agora Musica, 1996)Erlih, Devy (Adès, 1967 / CD reprint, 1987 (selection of 19 from the 24 Caprices: Nos. 2, 3, 8, 22 & 23 are not included)Fedotov, Maxim (Russian and Japanese issue – Triton, 1996)Fischer, Julia (Decca Classics, 2008/09)Garrett, David (DGG, 1996) – w. Bruno Canino, playing the Robert Schumann piano accompaniment for Nos. 1–23Gitlis, Ivry (Philips, 1976) – released in 2007Gringolts, Ilya (Orchid Classics, 2012)Herajnová, Jana (Czech issue – Nibiru, 1996)Huang, Mengla (Chinese issue – DGG, 2011)Justus, Adrian (Japanese issue – Office Amici, 2012) – 2CD+DVD, Live recordingKaler, Ilya (Naxos, 1992)Kamio, Mayuko (Japanese issue – BMG/RCA Victor Red Seal, 2009) – CD+DVD features an interview with KamioKavakos, Leonidas (Dynamic, 1989/90)Kawaciuk, Ivan (Supraphon, 1956/58)Kino, Masayuki (Japanese issue – Sound & Music Creation, 2003)Koelman, Rudolf (Wiediscon, 1996 / CD reprint: Hänssler, 2003) – 1996 live recordingKováč, Tibor (Gramola, 1999)Kubo, Yoko (Japanese issue – Regulus, 2007/08)Li, Chuanyun (Chinese issues – Poloarts, 1993 / CD reprint: Poloarts, 2007)Madoyan, Nikolay (2003) – 'live' recording, 4 November 2003 at San Donato Church Genoa, ItalyMajeski, Daniel (Advent, 1975) – the sleeve notes state: 'They are to date the most complete performance of the Caprices available'Malikian, Ara (Warner Classics Apex, 2002) – Warner claim this to be the first complete recording made of the caprices, following the repetition marks included in the autograph score. Total playing time: 100'25Markov, Alexander (DVD Warner Music Vision + CD Erato, 1989) – 'live' recording, 3 May 1989. DVD Film directed by Bruno Monsaingeon.Midori (Sony Classical, 1988)Milanova, Vanya (Simax, 1985)Milenković, Stefan (Dynamic, 2002/03) – 2-CD set with 'the complete music for solo violin'Mintz, Shlomo (DGG, 1981)Noferini, Roberto (Tactus/Naxos, 2014) – played on gut stringsPaetsch, Michaela (Teldec, 1987)Papavrami, Tedi (Aeon, 1997 + 2001) – 2-CD set with two different recordings: 1997 studio version + 19 April 2001, 'live' in TokyoPasquier, Régis (Auvidis Valois, 1991)Perlman, Itzhak (EMI, 1972)Pikaizen, Viktor Alexandrovich (Melodiya, 1967)Poulet, Gérard Georges (French issue – LP Deesse)Quarta, Massimo (Italian issue – Paragon, 2003 / reprint: Chandos, 2003)Rabin, Michael (Capitol, 1958)Rogliano, Marco (Tactus, 2000)Shunsuke Sato (Japanese issue – Universal Classics, 2009) – performed on pure gut stringsSchmid, Benjamin (MDG, 1994/95) – w. Lisa Smirnova, playing the Robert Schumann piano accompaniment for Nos. 1–23Senju, Mariko (JVC Classics, 1996)Shimizu, Takashi (Japanese issue – Platz, 1990)Spivakovsky, Tossy (Omega Classics, 1966) – w. Lester Taylor, playing the Robert Schumann piano accompaniment for Nos. 1–23Stadler, Sergei (Melodiya, 1983)Tchakerian, Sonig (Arts Music, 2002)Tian-Wa, Yang (Hugo Classical, 2000) – recorded by Tian-Wa at age thirteen, making her the youngest violinist, to record this workTokunaga, Tsugio (Japanese issue – CD Fontec, 2006)Turban, Ingolf (Claves, 1993/94) – w. Giovanni Bria, playing the Robert Schumann piano accompaniment for Nos. 1–23Vasile, Cornelia (Electrecord, 1969 / reprint: DGG Début, 1970 (reprint contains only Nos. 5, 7, 11, 13, 19, 22, 23, 24)Wawrowski, Janusz (Accord, 2006/07)Zalai, Antal (YouTube Video - Budapest, 4-13 August 2015)Zehetmair, Thomas (1st rec: Teldec, 1992 / 2nd rec: ECM Records, 2007)Zhislin, Grigori (Dante Lys, 1997)Zimmermann, Frank Peter (EMI, 1984/85) – plays the first twelve Caprices on a Stradivari of 1706 and the remainder on a Stradivari of 1684Zukofsky, Paul (Vanguard Classics, 1970) – so-called 'authentic' performance based on the original manuscriptBerman, Pavel (video - Classica HD, 2013) - Orchestra dei Talenti Musicali - live, Biella, Teatro Sociale, 2013 (version with String Orchestra by Giedrius Kuprevičius)Boyd, Bonita (flute) (Fleur De Son Classics, 2000) – arranged by Jules Herman for fluteCawdrey, Julian (flute) (Pavane Records, 1997) – arranged by Julian Cawdrey for fluteDrahos, Béla (flute) (Hungarian issue – Radioton, 1996) – arranged by Jules Herman for flute. Première recording of the 24 Caprices performed on the fluteFisk, Eliot (guitar) (Nimbus Records, 1991) – arranged by Eliot Fisk for guitarGallois, Patrick (flute) (DGG, 1991) – arranged by Patrick Gallois for fluteHekkema, Raaf (saxophone) (MDG, 2005) – arranged by Raaf Hekkema for alto saxophone (Nos. 1, 5 – 11, 13, 16, 20, 21, 23 & 24) & soprano saxophone (Nos. 2 – 4, 12, 14, 15, 17 – 19 & 22)Kato, Motoaki (flute) (Japanese issue – Livenotes, 1997) – arranged for fluteMérei, Tamás (cello) (Hungaroton Classic, 1999) – arranged by Tamás Mérei for celloSeres, Dora (flute) (CD Hungaroton) – arranged for fluteSlapin, Scott (viola) (Eroica Classical Recordings, 2008) – arranged for violaVardi, Emanuel (viola) (EPIC, 1965) – arranged for viola. Recorded on a 17-inch 'Dodd' viola in Vardi's home recording studioWihan String Quartet (Nimbus Alliance, 2009) – arranged by William Zinn for string quartet (Wihan SQ: Leos Cepicky and Jan Schulmeister, violins / Jiri Zigmund, viola / Ales Kasprik, cello) 
