Franz Liszt

Six Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini, S. 140

LW A52 · R. 3a · 1838

Total duration: 27' 30"

1. G minor
2. E-flat major
3. A-flat minor
4a. E major
4b. E major
5a. E major
5b. E major
6. A minor

The études are arrangements of works by Nicolò Paganini. The collection also exists in a later version from 1851, the Six Grandes études de Paganini (S. 141; LW A173; R. 3b).

Recommended editions

New Liszt Edition (Editio Musica Budapest) · Suppl. 12 · Z. A/B 14567 · ed. Adrienne Kaczmarczyk [including two album leaves for no. 4b]

1. G minor

This is an arrangement of a caprice for solo violin (op. 1 no. 6) that includes the introduction to another caprice (op. 1 no. 5). In the first edition, Alongside his arrangement, Liszt included Robert Schumann’s arrangement of one of these caprices (op. 1 no. 6), with some very minor alterations.

Duration: 5'

Difficulty: 4

Six Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini, S. 140; 1. G minor

2. E-flat major

This is an arrangement of a caprice for solo violin (op. 1 no. 17).

Duration: 5' 30"

Difficulty: 5

Six Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini, S. 140; 2. E-flat major

3. A-flat minor

This is based on themes from the final movements of the first and second violin concerti (opp. 6 and 7). In the 1851 version, Liszt removed the material based on the first concerto. Liszt also uses the theme from the second concerto in his Grande Fantaisie de bravoure sur La Clochette (S. 420; LW A15; R. 231) and Grande Fantaisie sur des thèmes de Paganini (S. 700a/i; LW A113; R. 231 and S. 700a/ii; LW A113; R. 231).

Duration: 4' 30"

Difficulty: 5

Six Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini, S. 140; 3. A-flat minor

4a. E major

Liszt gives two versions for this piece, which is an arrangement of a caprice for solo violin (op. 1 no. 1).

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 5

Six Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini, S. 140; 4a. E major

4b. E major

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 5

Six Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini, S. 140; 4b. E major

5a. E major

Liszt gives two versions for this piece, which is an arrangement of a caprice for solo violin (op. 1 no. 9). The opening bars are identical.

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 4.5

Six Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini, S. 140; 5a. E major

5b. E major

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 4.5

Six Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini, S. 140; 5b. E major

6. A minor

This is an arrangement of a caprice for solo violin (op. 1 no. 24). In 1884, Liszt wrote a short album leaf that can serve as an introduction to this étude.

Duration: 6'

Difficulty: 5

Six Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini, S. 140; 6. A minor