Stephen Goss : Paganini Variations for violin and guitar : Doberman – Yppan

Stephen Goss

Doberman – Yppan : Score and separate parts ( 12, 7, and 6 pages respectively)

Firstly, this is a wonderful piece of writing that has a performance on YouTube by Max Baillie and Francisco Correa that has to be heard to be believed! It is one of the most virtuosic pieces you are ever likely to hear for this combination. Based on Paganini’s theme from the first Centone di Sonate MS112, it is itself a theme and five variations, the last of which is the Finale.

It was apparently originally written for violin, mandolin and guitar  before being rearranged for this pair of instruments ( The original is also available from Doberman – Yppan)

After a silent bar headed with the instruction that it could have an optional improvised violin cadenza here (which the video does have) the theme occurs in A minor marked Allegro Maestoso, ma scherzando at a hefty speed of 94 minims a minute, with the guitar providing accompaniment chords and bass notes, albeit rather unusual at times with lots of ‘crunch’ chords, to the violin’s jumpy and dance orientated theme. This, straightaway, shows the listener just how fabulous the two players need to be to even think of playing this piece .Variation 1 is full of triplet quavers on the violin with the guitar in an accompaniment role. Then on variation 2 (Campanella, delicato e dolce) the guitar gets the melody in the form of a constant row of quavers, whilst the violin is playing pizzicato notes and three note chords. Variation 3 is marked Ritmico with both players playing quaver triplets at the alarming speed of 102 minims a minute! Variation 4 takes a new turn in that it is marked Misterioso and both players harmonise with each other on a very strange, almost atonal melody with both parts full of accidentals. Then we get the finale which really does race to the close with a very ear – catchingly fast set of notes and a slam – bang.

This is a great piece of very clever writing but it is very advanced indeed, so listen to the recording before you look for the music.

Chris Dumigan