Caprice No. 5 (Paganini)
Encyclopedia
Caprice
No. 5 is one of 24 pieces composed by virtuoso
violin
ist Niccolò Paganini
in the early 19th century. The piece is known for its incredible speed and extremely high technical difficulty. Paganini is said to have been able to play it on one string, but there is no evidence to support or refute this.
The piece is often associated with the movie Crossroads as Eugene's Trick Bag, which was written and performed by Steve Vai
and heavily inspired by the caprice.
The first recorded true transcription of the piece appeared on Eliot Fisk's landmark recording that transcribed the entire 24 Caprices for the classical guitar.
genre, as seen from virtuoso Jason Becker
's version of the piece, re-arranged for electric guitar
(see External Links)and for Yngwie Malmsteen's use of Paganini inspired techniques in his music. Yngwie Malmsteen created a guitar tab transcription (although, it deviated from the original score) for the piece in an issue of Guitar World
magazine. The following are examples of the piece in modern music:
Capriccio (music)
A capriccio or caprice , is a piece of music, usually fairly free in form and of a lively character...
No. 5 is one of 24 pieces composed by virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique...
in the early 19th century. The piece is known for its incredible speed and extremely high technical difficulty. Paganini is said to have been able to play it on one string, but there is no evidence to support or refute this.
Transcription for other instruments
The piece has been transcribed for many instruments: piano, cello, accordion, guitar, etc... However, it is most often seen attempted by guitarists. Although it has been transcribed in its original key, the transcription often suffers from slower tempos due to the limitations of the instrument (longer neck length and width of the guitar and cello makes playing this piece below 2:30 most likely impossible), excessive use of slurs (especially for the guitar transcriptions) and musical liberties that do not adhere to the original score--typically seen with rock guitar musicians. In fact, severe bastardizations of the piece have made their way into rock guitar circles.The piece is often associated with the movie Crossroads as Eugene's Trick Bag, which was written and performed by Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
and heavily inspired by the caprice.
The first recorded true transcription of the piece appeared on Eliot Fisk's landmark recording that transcribed the entire 24 Caprices for the classical guitar.
Influence on Contemporary Music
Though written for the violin, the piece has also become known amongst guitarists, particularly because of its appeal to the technical proficiency of the shred guitarShred guitar
Shred guitar or shredding is lead electric guitar playing that relies heavily on fast guitar solos. While some critics argue that shred guitar is associated with "... sweep-picked arpeggios, diminished and harmonic minor scales, finger-tapping and ... whammy-bar abuse", several guitar...
genre, as seen from virtuoso Jason Becker
Jason Becker
Jason Eli Becker is an American virtuoso neo-classical metal guitarist and composer. At the age of 16, he became part of the Mike Varney-produced duo Cacophony with his friend Marty Friedman. They released Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988...
's version of the piece, re-arranged for electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(see External Links)and for Yngwie Malmsteen's use of Paganini inspired techniques in his music. Yngwie Malmsteen created a guitar tab transcription (although, it deviated from the original score) for the piece in an issue of Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
magazine. The following are examples of the piece in modern music:
- The piece has also inspired rapper BusdriverBusdriverBusdriver is a rapper from Los Angeles currently signed to Epitaph Records and Fake Four Inc-History:...
for the intermission part of his song "Imaginary Places". - The title track of Michael Angelo BatioMichael Angelo BatioMichael Angelo Batio also known as Mike Batio or MAB, is a guitarist and columnist from Chicago, Illinois. His work has encompassed many genres, notably metal and its subgenres. Batio was voted the "No. 1 Shredder of All Time" by Guitar One Magazine in 2003...
's No BoundariesNo Boundaries (Michael Angelo Batio album)No Boundaries is the first studio album by guitarist Michael Angelo Batio, released in 1995 through Thermometer Sound Surface and reissued in 2002 through M.A.C.E. Music...
contains an arrangement of the piece. - FinnishFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
neo-classical metalNeo-classical metalNeo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...
band Virtuocity used a variation in the song "Eye for an Eye" on their debut album Secret Visions. - GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
heavy metalHeavy metal musicHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band DomainDomain (band)Domain is a German power metal band.- DOMAIN :Domain first impressed fans of melodic metal back in the 80s with their first works, "Lost In The City" , "Before The Storm" and "Crack in The Wall", as well as with their hit songs such as 'Lost In The City' and ‚ 'I Don’t Wanna Die'.- DOMAIN MKII ...
also uses a variation in the solo for their song "Warpath" on the album The Sixth Dimension. - Joe StumpJoe StumpJoe Stump is an American guitarist and composer. He plays neo-classical metal, in a style similar to that of Yngwie Malmsteen. He has released albums with his band, Reign of Terror, and as a solo artist. He also plays the lead guitar for the symphonic metal band HolyHell...
uses elements of the piece in the track "Paganini's Revenge" from the album Guitar DominanceGuitar DominanceGuitar Dominance! is the first studio album by guitarist Joe Stump, released in 1993 through Leviathan Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Joe Stump – electric guitar, acoustic guitar*Darrell Maxfield – drums*John Risti – bass guitar...
. - The first notes of the composition are used in The FaintThe FaintThe Faint is an American indie rock band. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska, the band consists of Todd Fink, Jacob Thiele, Dapose, Joel Petersen and Clark Baechle. The Faint was originally known as Norman Bailer and included Conor Oberst...
's album, Wet From BirthWet from BirthWet from Birth is the fourth studio album by the New Wave band The Faint. It was released on September 14, 2004.-Track listing:# "Desperate Guys" – 3:06# "How Could I Forget?" – 3:17# "I Disappear" – 4:07# "Southern Belles in London Sing" – 3:31...
at the beginning of the first track, "Desperate Guys".