Paganini Concerto No.2 Mvmt. II

N. Paganini: Concerto No. 2 in B minor op.7 "La Campanella"
Mvmt. II Adagio
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, violin
Bernard Thomas Chamber Orchestra

Subtitled "La Campanella" or "the bell" for the bell-like effects in the 3rd movement Rondo.

Niccolò Paganini (October 27, 1782--May 27, 1840) was an Italian violinist, and composer for the violin, whose gifts were so ineffably transcendent that he was rumored to be in league with the devil! Specifically, he revolutionalized violin technique, and was an enigmatic character (one he played to the hilt; his adulation was equivalent to that of a modern day rock star, as in the reception the Beatles received); whose mark on the violin world has yet to even be equalled, much less surpassed (not sure that's even possible). He is to violin what Liszt and Bach are to piano and organ respectively (indeed, the young Liszt was indelibly affected and inspired by Paganini, and went as far as to state that he wished to emulate him on piano). Not just a superlative performer, Paganini's compositions, as stated, revolutionized violin technique such that new sounds, techniques and "trickery", theretofore unheard, indeed unimagined, from the violin, were invented. He was also a great orchestrator, very classical, as his orchestrations to his concerti will testify. When bored he was reputed to turn to the guitar and has penned several duets for violin and guitar. The theme from the 3rd movement of this 2nd concerto "la campanella"; the seminal theme from the caprice in A minor, Op. 1 No. 24; as well as several other of his themes (inclucing adaptations of some of the caprices for piano by Liszt and Schumann), have served as inspiration for other great composers from Schumann to Brahms to Liszt to Rachmaninoff, who have all penned several indescribably wonderful compositions of their own based on these themes of Paganini.

The interested listenter is encouraged to check out Brahms' "Variations on a Theme of Paganini" Books 1 and 2, all of which develop the theme of the 24th caprice; and Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini", a work for piano and orchestra that develops another set of variations on that ubiquitous, infectious 24th caprice theme; and the studies on the Paganini Caprices for piano by Liszt and Schumann, including Liszt's famous "La Campanella" etude, the theme of which was taken from the 3rd movement of this 2nd concerto!.

Of course one is encouraged to check out more of Paganini himself including the 24 Caprices op.1; the first 2 concerti; and a lot of miscellany. He wrote 6 concerti but the first 2 are most often heard. All of these pieces and more can be heard on my "Paganini" playlist that should be immediately apparent on my channel's opening page; in addition I have two other seperate playsists of the complete caprices in order by Perlman and Ricci. Please enjoy! Thank you!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• paganini
• concerto
• minor
• violin
• kantorow
• la
• campanella

[rtomsc]

where would you find the cadenzas in print. do you have to write them yourself??

[danceofthegoblins]

@rtomsc Generally a cadenza will come with the score and be printed right into the soloist's score. Ocassioanlly multiple cadenzas exist whether written by the composer themselves or another artist; these can be harder to find, usually you have to chase a certain edition for it (and often editions offer two or more cadenzas), nowadays tho scores and things like that are easier than ever to find online.

"

[danceofthegoblins]

As a historical footnote: cadenzas were originally emply spaces left in concerti for the soloist to improvise and show off their technique. While composers would often offer one, it was always "ad libitum" and the soloist could do what they wanted. It seems tho, as musical form evolved that the composers would leave very specific cadenzas that would function not only to showcase technique but acted as a kind of "recapitualtion" of the concertos themes therein.

[danceofthegoblins]

Please excuse all the typos above! A laptop and awkward position will do that!

The cadenza for this concerto is at the end of the first movement (see my vid of this concerto Mvmt I part 2 for the cadenza). Cadenzas usually, but not always, are at the end of the first movement and occasionally have another, usually less spectacular, and/or shorter one in the third,

[beethomozart]

a moment of relax after the powerful and exhausting 1st movement, Paganini has been labeled as the greatest violinist in history, among his many spectacular performances was the one where he played too many difficult cadenzas with only one string left at purpose on his instrument, so he could show off, but he really deserved to do it,

[danceofthegoblins]

Yeah, he had a lot of "tricks" that just happened to revolutionize violin technique!

[Mozart99900]

Hi I did notg find Ricci playing Paganini 2nd Concerto if you have please download it . TY