Wieniawski (8) Caprices op.10

September 22, 2010 at 2:23 PM

Eveyrbody knows the Sonate's + Partita's of Bach and the Caprices of Paganini from conservatory and competitions, but what about the 8 Etudes / caprices of Wieniwski? :

From carlos majlis
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 10:50 AM

Every violin fan knows W.caprices (or should know them). It aren't so rare as, e.g. the Eckhardt-Gramatte, the Achron-Paganini , or the Christostov's Bulgarian caprices.

From Bram Heemskerk
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 12:24 PM

OK , Carlos you are a specialist. There are 35 versions of the 24 Paganini Capriccio's and Julia Fischer just added her version to it. The sonata's and partita's of Bach has been recorded more than 16 times. The 6 Etudes (caprices) of Ernst or the 8 Etudes (caprices) of Wieniawski or the 24 Rode caprices or the pieces you mention are seldom recorded, thus unknown and forgotten, just like the pieces you mention. The 24 capriccio's of Lvov has never been recorded. Sure a lot of conservatory violin students do not know these pieces.

It is the same with violin concerto's. The often recorded (commercial interesting but artistic often boring and not adding something new to the well known versions) and often performed pieces are well known, the rare pieces, seldom recorded and seldom performed are forgotten.

Ok when the Ernst, Wieniawski and Rode Caprices are obliged during Elisabeth- , Hannover- , Indianapolis- and other international competitions and Bach partita's and Paganini caprices are forbidden you can force violinstudents to listen to them and play them. But that will not happen.

From carlos majlis
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 3:43 PM

Yes, it's a miracle when any violinist revived some unknown and/or forgotten piece, and ussualy is only a recording on some obscure and rare label .But they don't dare to play it live. About Bach's solos, I thing you are short. I thing there were more that 80 different recordings. Just Szeryng, and Milstein recorded it twice each.Enescu, Heifetz, Szigety, Menuhin, Ricci, only to name some old names of past century. And nearly half players from the last 30 years had made a recording of it. Of LvB, Mendelssohn, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky concertos, there are more that a hundred recordings of each.

From Benjamin Eby
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:32 PM

I knew of these Caprices before I left for college...and most violinists preparing to do the Paganini Caprices are taught these as preparation. They are difficult, but are not that great for public performance. I will also mention his duet etudes, although they are not as difficult.

From Larry Samuels
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 6:57 PM

Bram

As always, thanks for going to the effort to post these videos, especially with the music. I'm always looking for less-well known pieces, like this, that should be heard more.

One request - would it be possible for you to include the name of the violinist playing the pieces you post? It's nice to know who's taken the trouble to record the pieces. -)

Thanks again!

Larry S,

From Vernon Kirby
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:31 PM

I think the reason that some concertos get neglected are because the orchestra doesn't want to play it in favor of something more known... which doesn't usually bother the general public, but annoys the heck out of the violinist who ends up stuck doing the same things over and over.

Where is Les Arpegges? Isn't the last etude he wrote for that set? I was sure it was...

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Wieniawski (8) Caprices op.10

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