24 Caprices (Paganini)
The three selections in this transcription adapt extremely well to the marimba and, in turn, showcase many of the virtuosic four-mallet techniques found in contemporary marimba literature, such as close-interval sticking and arpeggios/scales involving all four mallets.
Medium: Solo Marimba (4.5-octave)
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Adapted: 1999 (orig. composed in 1801-1807)
Duration: 10:30
Difficulty: Grade 4-5
Composed between 1801 and 1807, Niccolò Paganini’s 24 Caprices, Op. 1 for solo violin are some of the most technically demanding in the repertoire. Each caprice highlights particular virtuosic violin techniques, such as cross-string arpeggios, left-hand pizzicato, double-stop harmonics and ‘ricochet’ bowings. These two selections adapt extremely well to the marimba and, in turn, showcase many of the virtuosic four-mallet techniques found in contemporary marimba performance.
