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Paganini Caprice No. 9 for Bass

Arranged by Anthony Stoops


Title: Caprice No. 9
Composer: Niccolò Paganini
Instrument: Bass
Edited By: Anthony Stoops
Instrumentation: Solo
Pages: 3

I transcribed Paganini's Caprice No. 9 to play for the 1995 International Society of Bassists Solo Competition because I needed a virtuoso work to round out my program. I was inspired to see if I could play Paganini on the bass after listening to Yo-Yo Ma’s recording of Kreisler and Paganini’s works transcribed for cello. I played my transcription for Diana Gannett who was my teacher at the time. I was having trouble with the octaves in the middle section and Dr. Gannett suggested a combination of thirds and sixths instead of octaves. This change implies octaves, yet it makes the passage playable from a technical perspective. The main piece of technical advice that I can give in learning this piece is to be economical with your bow usage – it will help keep all of the technical challenges under control.

-Anthony Stoops


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Click below to preview or purchase a recording of Michael Rabin, Ilya Kaler or Ruggiero Ricci performing Paganini's Caprice No. 9 in its original version for solo violin.