- Written in 1918, Szymanowski’s 3 Paganini Caprices transcribe three of Paganini’s 24 Caprices for violin and piano: No. 20 in D Major, No. 21 in A Major, and No. 24 in a minor.
- Szymanowski is one of many composers inspired to transcribe Paganini’s famous collection of violin works. You can view the full list here.
- The first two caprices are dedicated to violinist Paul Kochanski. The third is dedicated to violinist Józef Ozimiński, who premiered Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
- In adding piano to the transcription, Szymanowski added modern, chromatic harmonies and complex textures, transforming Paganini’s well-known melodies into something unexpected and unique.1
Sources
- Anna Iwanicka-Nijakowska, “Three Paganini Caprices Op. 40 – Karol Szymanowski,” Culture.pl (2007), accessed September 28, 2026, https://culture.pl/en/work/three-paganini-caprices-op-40-karol-szymanowski.
Cut IDs
28792 28793