Four Caprices For Violin Solo

24 Etudes-Caprices Op. 41 by Delphin Alard (1815-1888) are excellent study material. Alard, the violin teacher of Sasasate, composed these studies in the 24 keys. Due to their musical variety, melodic beauty and cantabile voice leading, they are much more than technical studies; they might be described as character pieces in the best sense. The studies meet the two demands principally made on this genre: to both cover specifically certain technical tasks and be appealing as a music piece so that the musician likes to play them. Contenu - C major: playing three and four-part chords - playing in high positions on the G string - A minor: string-crossing - shifting with the left arm - spiccato bowing - G major: alternating double-stopping (melodic line)-solo line - E minor: cantabile melodic line - ornamentation - D major: double-stopping - harmonics - ricochet bowing - B minor: consistent legato bowing - expressive melodic line alternating with accompanying figures-A major: double-stopping (mainly in sixths) - three-part chords - ricochet bowing - F minor: legato study - E major: double-stopping (mainly in thirds) - C minor: playing a melody on one string - tremolo - B major: waltzes- lively dance-like patterns - G minor: ornamenting notes - long legato bowing - Gb major: legato string-crossing - Eb minor: lightness and elegance of tone - staccato - Db major: dotted rhythms - Bb minor: alternating solo melodic line- double-stopping - Ab major: Caprice for bringing out tone quality when playing legato - F minor: restless tied notes - lyrical lines in the middle section - Eb major: continuous tremolo accompanying figures - C minor: ricochet bowing - legato string-crossing - Bb major: alternating solo line- double-stopping - G minor: double-stopping with syncopations - F major: double-stopping dotted notes in horn-fifths - D minor: Bolero in virtuoso style - double-stopping - staccato bowing - lyrical middle section