Paganini Variations on Rossini Duet

Paganini Variations on Rossini duet for cello and bass (or two cellos) arranged by Samuel Sykes. Two parts included.

• Pages — 13 total
• Duration — 10 min
• Files — 2 parts
• Instrumentation — Cello and Bass or Cello Duet
• Level — Advanced

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This arrangement was largely inspired by the Demenga (listen here) and Schmidt/Mainz (or listen here) version but the bass plays most of the accompaniment (and has an occasional solo when appropriate…). Also included is the Piatigorsky cadenza from Schumann cello concerto. Can be played as written for cello and bass or equally as well for two cellos. Enjoy!

Few composers are as synonymous with virtuosity as Niccolò Paganini. A dazzling violinist and showman of near-mythic reputation, Paganini transformed violin technique in the early 19th century and left a lasting legacy of virtuosic works designed to astonish audiences. His Variations on a Theme by Rossini, also known as “Introduction and Variations on ‘Dal tuo stellato soglio’”, is a brilliant example of his ability to combine expressive lyricism with technical display.

The theme is drawn from the prayer scene in Act III of Gioachino Rossini’s opera Mosè in Egitto (“Moses in Egypt”) which was written in 1818 – specifically the hauntingly beautiful ensemble “Dal tuo stellato soglio” (“From Thy Starry Throne”). In the opera, this sacred hymn is a moment of collective pleading, marked by its solemn beauty and harmonic richness. Paganini takes this noble melody and transforms it into a vehicle for instrumental fireworks.

After a brief introduction, the theme is presented with reverence and grace, honoring its operatic origins. What follows is a set of increasingly virtuosic variations in which Paganini reimagines Rossini’s melody through the lens of a 19th-century violin virtuoso. These variations showcase a wide range of techniques including rapid string crossings, ricochet bowing, pizzicato, harmonics, and dazzling runs across all registers. The music oscillates between elegance and flamboyance, demanding from the performer both musical sensitivity and technical mastery.

Although best known in its original version for solo violin (often accompanied by orchestra or piano), the work has been transcribed for various instruments – including cello, viola, and even double bass – each version posing its own unique challenges. Regardless of the instrument, the piece remains a testament to the Romantic era’s fascination with the performer as both interpreter and virtuoso.

In Variations on a Theme by Rossini, Paganini pays homage not only to one of his favorite composers but also to the art of operatic expression itself – translating vocal beauty into instrumental brilliance.

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