Canon
Where to start with Paganini
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
Chamber24 Caprices for Solo Violin, op. 1, MS25
-
OrchestralViolin Concerto no. 1 in E flat major, op. 6, MS21
-
OrchestralSonata per la Grand Viola and Orchestra in C minor, MS70
-
OrchestralViolin Concerto no. 2 in B minor, op. 7, "La campanella"
-
Chamber3 Duets, for violin and bassoon, MS130
-
Chamber3 Duetti concertanti, for violin and cello, MS107
-
Chamber3 Quartets, for guitar and strings, op. 4, MS28-30
-
Chamber3 Quartets, for guitar and strings, op. 5, MS31-33
-
Chamber4 Nocturnes, for string quartet, MS15
-
Chamber4 Studies for Violin Solo
-
Chamber43 Ghiribizzi, MS43
-
Chamber6 Duetti, for violin and guitar, MS110
-
Chamber6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS10, "Lucca Sonatas"
-
Chamber6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS11, "Lucca Sonatas"
-
Chamber6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS12, "Lucca Sonatas"
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Paganini's catalogueMost Popular
-
24 Caprices Op. 1
-
Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major
-
La Campanella (Rondo from Concerto No. 2)
-
Caprice No. 24 in A minor
-
Introduction and Variations on ”Nel cor più non mi sento”
Most Acclaimed
-
24 Caprices (complete)
-
Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor
-
Moses Fantasy (for G string alone)
-
Guitar Sonatas
-
I Palpiti (variations on Rossini)
Most Weird
-
Caprice No. 24the theme has been used by Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Lutosławski, and Paganini himself — it’s already deranged in his hands
-
Moses Fantasyvariations on an operatic theme played on the G string alone — the lowest string; other strings are detuned to resonate
-
I Palpiti (variations)borderline unplayable variations that show off every trick simultaneously
-
Guitar Sonatashe also played guitar — these works are almost never performed and show a completely different side
-
Caprice No. 5 in A minordouble-stop arpeggios — two simultaneous independent voices; impossible-looking on the page
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 149
- Chamber
- ● 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, op. 1, MS25
- 3 Duets, for violin and bassoon, MS130
- 3 Duetti concertanti, for violin and cello, MS107
- 3 Quartets, for guitar and strings, op. 4, MS28-30
- 3 Quartets, for guitar and strings, op. 5, MS31-33
- 4 Nocturnes, for string quartet, MS15
- 4 Studies for Violin Solo
- 43 Ghiribizzi, MS43
- 6 Duetti, for violin and guitar, MS110
- 6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS10, "Lucca Sonatas"
- 6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS11, "Lucca Sonatas"
- 6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS12, "Lucca Sonatas"
- 6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS13, "Lucca Sonatas"
- 6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS133, "Lucca Sonatas"
- 6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS134, "Lucca Sonatas"
- 6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS9, "Lucca Sonatas"
- 60 Variations on Barucabà, for violin and guitar, op. 14, MS71
- 9 Quartets, for guitar and strings, MS34-42
- Allegretto in A major, MS86
- Allegretto in A major, MS90
- Allegretto in A minor, MS91
- Andantino in C major, MS89
- Andantino in C major, MS97
- Andantino in F minor, MS102
- Andantino in G major, MS88
- Andantino in G major, MS99
- Cantabile a Minuetto no. 3, MS126
- Cantabile and Waltz in E for Violin and Guitar, MS45
- Cantabile e Valtz no. 4, MS127
- Cantabile e Valtz no. 5, MS128
- Cantabile e Valtz no. 6, MS129
- Cantabile in D major, for violin and guitar, MS109
- Cantabile in D major, for violin and piano, MS109, op. 17
- Caprice d'adieu, for solo violin, MS68
- Carmagnola, variations for violin and guitar
- Centone di Sonate no. 15 in A major, for guitar and violin, MS112/15
- Centone di sonate no. 1 in A minor, for violin and guitar, MS112/1
- Centone di sonate no. 10 in C major, for violin and guitar, MS112/10
- Centone di sonate no. 11 in A minor, for violin and guitar, MS112/11
- Centone di sonate no. 12 in D major, for violin and guitar, MS112/12
- Centone di sonate no. 13 in E major, for violin and guitar, MS112/13
- Centone di sonate no. 14 in G major, for violin and guitar, MS112/14
- Centone di sonate no. 16 in E major, for violin and guitar, MS112/16
- Centone di sonate no. 17 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/17
- Centone di sonate no. 18 in C major, for violin and guitar, MS112/18
- Centone di sonate no. 2 in D major, for violin and guitar, MS112/2
- Centone di sonate no. 3 in C major, for violin and guitar, MS112/3
- Centone di sonate no. 4 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/4
- Centone di sonate no. 5 in E major, for violin and guitar, MS112/5
- Centone di sonate no. 6 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/6
- Centone di sonate no. 7 in F major, for violin and guitar, MS112/7
- Centone di sonate no. 8 in G major, for violin and guitar, MS112/8
- Centone di sonate no. 9 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/9
- Divertimenti carnevaleschi, 20 pieces for 2 violins and bass, MS4
- Duetto amoroso in C for Violin and Guitar, MS111
- Entrata d'Adone nella reggia di Venere in C major, for violin and guitar, MS8
- Grand Sonata in A for Violin and Guitar, op. 35, MS3
- Guitar Sonata in A
- Guitar Sonata in A major, MS104
- Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/1
- Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/2
- Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/26
- Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/30
- Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/37
- Guitar Sonata in C major, MS84/15
- Guitar Sonata in D major, MS84/10
- Guitar Sonata in D major, MS84/4
- Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/16
- Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/25
- Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/32
- Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/35
- Guitar Sonata in E major, MS87
- Guitar Sonata in F major, MS84/14
- Guitar Sonata in F major, MS84/6
- Guitar Sonata in G major, MS84/8
- Guitar Sonatina in A major, MS85/2
- Guitar Sonatina in C major, MS85/1
- Guitar Sonatina in C major, MS85/4
- Guitar Sonatina in C major, MS85/5
- Guitar Sonatina in D major, MS85/3
- In cuor più non mi sento in A major, for 2 violins and bass, MS117
- Inno patriotico in A major, Allegro and 6 Variations for solo violin, MS81
- Introduction and Variations on 'Nel cor più non mi sento' from Paisiello's 'La molinara,' Op.38, MS44
- Marcia in A major, MS103
- Marziale, MS105
- Minuet for mandolin, MS106
- Minuet in E
- Moto perpetuo in C major, for violin and guitar, op. 11, MS72
- Romance in A minor, for guitar and strings
- Rondoncino in E major, MS94
- Serenata in C major, for viola, cello and guitar, MS17
- Serenata in F major, for 2 violins and guitar
- Serenata in F major, for 2 violins and guitar, MS115
- Serenata per Rovene, for mandolin and guitar in E minor, MS14
- Serenata, for mandolin and guitar in G major, MS16
- Sinfonia della Lodovisia in D major, MS98
- Sonata and Variations, MS132
- Sonata concertata in A for Violin and Guitar, op. 61, MS2
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A major, op. 2, no. 1, MS26/1
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A major, op. 2, no. 4, MS26/4
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A major, op. 3, no. 1 MS27/1
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A minor, op. 2, no. 6, MS26/6
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A minor, op. 3, no. 4, MS27/4
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A, op. 3, no. 5, MS27/5
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in C major, op. 2, no. 2, MS26/2
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in D major, op. 2, no. 5, MS26/5
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in D major, op. 3, no. 3, MS27/3
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in D minor, op. 2, no. 3, MS6/3
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in E minor, op. 3, no. 6, MS27/6
- Sonata for Violin and Guitar in G major, op. 3, no. 2, MS27/2
- Sonata in F minor
- Sonatina for Violin and Guitar no. 1, MS124
- Sonatina for Violin and Guitar no. 2, MS125
- Tema variato in A major, Theme and 7 Variations for solo violin, MS82
- Terzetto concertante in D major, for viola, guitar and cello, MS114
- Terzetto in A minor, for 2 violins and guitar, MS116
- Terzetto in D major, for violin, cello and guitar, MS69
- Trio in D
- Trio in F major, MS101
- Variations on 'Preghiera', MS23
- Variations on a string, for cello and piano
- Violin Sonata in A major, MS83
- Violin Sonata in C major, MS6
- Violin Sonata no. 1 in D minor
- Waltz in C major, MS92
- Waltz in E major, MS96
- Orchestral
- ● Violin Concerto no. 1 in E flat major, op. 6, MS21
- Sonata per la Grand Viola and Orchestra in C minor, MS70
- Violin Concerto no. 2 in B minor, op. 7, "La campanella"
- Adagio in E flat major, for violin and orchestra, MS49
- Adagio in E major, for violin and orchestra, MS49
- Concertino for Horn, Bassoon and Orchestra, "Niccolò Paganini a Mr. Henry"
- Introduction and Variations on 'Di tanti palpiti' from Rossini's 'Tancredi,' Op.13, MS77
- Introduction and Variations on 'Non più mesta' from Rossini's 'La cenerentola' in E flat major, op. 12; MS22
- La Primavera, sonata with variations in A major, op. 30, MS73
- Le streghe, op. 8, MS19, "Witches' Dance"
- Maestosa sonata sentimentale, op. 27, MS51
- Molto perpetuo, for violin and orchestra, MS66
- Napoléon in E flat major, for violin and orchestra, MS5
- Polacca con variazioni in A major, MS18
- Sonata Varsavia, MS57
- Sonata and Variations on 'Pria ch'io l'impegno' from Weigl's 'L'amor Marinaro' in E major, MS47
- Tarantella in A major, for violin and orchestra, MS76
- Variations on 'God Save the King', op. 9, MS56
- Violin Concerto no. 3 in E major, MS50
- Violin Concerto no. 4 in D minor, MS60
- Violin Concerto no. 5 in A minor, op. 37, MS78
- Violin Concerto no. 6 in E minor, op. post.
- Vocal
- Le Couvent du Mont St. Bernard, for violin, orchestra and male chorus, MS67