Wieniawski - Etudes-Caprices, Op. 18 (Transcribed for 2 cellos)
Henryk Wieniawski’s Études-Caprices, Op. 18, belong to the brilliant nineteenth-century virtuoso tradition, combining technical study with concert character. Originally written for violin, these works go far beyond dry Read more
Henryk Wieniawski’s Études-Caprices, Op. 18, belong to the brilliant nineteenth-century virtuoso tradition, combining technical study with concert character. Originally written for violin, these works go far beyond dry exercises, exploring bow control, articulation, passagework, double stops, coordination, and musical imagination in pieces that are as performative as they are pedagogical.
In 2019, Brinton Smith of the Houston Symphony asked me to transcribe Wieniawski’s tour de force Études-Caprices for two cellos. I took him up on the challenge, creating a version that brings Wieniawski’s demanding violin writing into the cello world while preserving the spirit, brilliance, and technical intensity of the originals.
For cellists wondering what lies beyond Grützmacher and Paganini, these transcriptions offer a serious and rewarding next step. They are well suited for advanced students, professionals, lessons, studio classes, and performers looking to expand their technical and musical range through high-level Romantic virtuoso repertoire.
ASTA level: 4–6