{"id":729,"date":"2013-11-01T19:02:35","date_gmt":"2013-11-01T19:02:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alzand.com\/?page_id=729"},"modified":"2026-02-03T09:50:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:50:01","slug":"paganini","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alzand.com\/?page_id=729","title":{"rendered":"Karim Al-Zand: Music: Paganini Reverie"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Paganini Reverie<\/h2>\n

for piano<\/h5>\n

C<\/span>hristopher Janwong McKiggan commissioned this short piece as part of a series of piano works, a project he describes: Coming from a multi-cultural background, I have always been interested in different styles of music from around the world. For this project \u201cPaganimania\u201d, I decided to commission music from multiple composers (with different cultural backgrounds) based on one of the most recognizable themes in \"image\" Classical music: Paganini\u2018s 24th Caprice. The composers involved in the project are: Robert Beaser, Karim Al-Zand, Narong Prangcharoen, Zhou Jing, Peace Nistades, James Mobberley and Moon Young Ha.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYet another piece based on the Paganini 24th caprice?\u201d That was my thinking when Chris McKiggan approached me about the project. However, after writing Paganini Reverie<\/i>, I can see why composers are so drawn to the simple theme: it provides a perfect balance of stricture and freedom. My inspiration for the piece comes from an evocative passage in Heinrich Heine\u2018s, Florentine Nights<\/i>, which narrates a Paganini concert in vivid detail. The protagonist describes a waking dream which is prompted by the virtuoso\u2018s playing, each change of mood triggering a fantastical new scene.<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

SCORE + RECORDING VIDEO<\/p>\n