Paganini Variations, Op. 35

E274979

Paganini Variations, Op. 35 is a virtuosic set of piano variations by Johannes Brahms based on a theme by Niccolò Paganini, renowned for its technical difficulty and inventive treatment of the original melody.

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Predicate Object
instanceOf concert piece
set of variations
solo piano composition
alsoKnownAs Paganini Variations
Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35
basedOn Caprice No. 24 in A minor
basedOnComposer Niccolò Paganini
catalogNumber Op. 35
composer Johannes Brahms
composerNationality German
compositionForm two books of variations and finale-like closing variations
dedication Carl Tausig
genre theme and variations
virtuosic piano work
historicalContext 19th-century Romantic piano repertoire
influencedBy Romantic piano virtuosity
virtuoso violin tradition of Niccolò Paganini
instrumentation solo piano
key A minor
language instrumental
notableFeature advanced piano technique requirements
complex rhythmic figurations
contrapuntal writing
demanding octave passages
extreme technical difficulty
independence of hands
innovative treatment of Paganini’s theme
rapid passagework
use of complex double notes
use of variation technique as etudes
use of wide stretches and large hand spans
numberOfBooks 2
numberOfVariationsPerBook 14
numberOfVolumes 2
opusNumber Op. 35
originalMedium solo piano score
period Romantic
placeInComposerOutput major virtuosic piano work of Brahms’s early maturity
sourceWorkComposer Niccolò Paganini
sourceWorkInstanceOf violin caprice
themeKey A minor
themeOrigin Paganini Caprice No. 24 in A minor, Op. 1
titleOfBook Book I
Book II
totalNumberOfVariations 28
typicalPerformanceDuration about 25 minutes
usedAs concert showpiece for pianists
technical study material for advanced pianists

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Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Johannes Brahms notableWork Paganini Variations, Op. 35
Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24 relatedWorkBySameComposer Paganini Variations, Op. 35
Paganini Variations, Op. 35 alsoKnownAs Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35
linked to: Paganini Variations, Op. 35
Paganini Variations, Op. 35 alsoKnownAs Paganini Variations
linked to: Paganini Variations, Op. 35