Grandes études de Paganini

Études

Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini

• Original version, S. 140 – Dedicated to Madame Clara Schumann
• *Étude No. 1 in G minor – after Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin No. 6. Begins with a prelude of rapid arpeggios and scales and then enters the main étude section; as the name suggests, the piece is meant to employ tremolos. Voicing and dynamics are important in "Tremolo", and adding to its difficulty is the fact that many tremolos are marked to be played by the left hand only.
• *Étude No. 2 in E major – after the 17th caprice. Contains many rapid scales and octaves and requires elegance and quality of tone.
• *Étude No. 3 in A minor – after the final movement of Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor, and containing the first theme of the final movement of Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 1 in E major.
• *Étude No. 4 in E major – after the 1st caprice.
• *Étude No. 5 in E major – after the 9th caprice.
• *Étude No. 6 in A minor – after the 24th caprice, with a slightly altered theme and 11 variations. The technically demanding work abounds with rapid octaves, scales, and arpeggios.

  Grandes Études de Paganini

• Revised version, S. 141 – dedicated to Madame Clara Schumann
• *Étude No. 1 in G minor – after the 6th caprice.
• *Étude No. 2 in E major – after the 17th caprice.
• *Étude No. 3 in G minor – after the final movement of Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor.
• *Étude No. 4 in E major – after the 1st caprice. Written on one line only, omitting the usual separate line for the left hand. Furthermore, its lowest tone is the G₃, the score thus mimicking a score for violin.
• *Étude No. 5 in E major – after the 9th caprice.
• *Étude No. 6 in A minor – after the 24th caprice.