Fantasy Variations on a Theme of Paganini

Commissioned by the United States Marine Band, the set of twenty variations is based on the famous theme of Paganini’s 24th Caprice in A Minor for solo violin, which is the same theme used by Brahms and Rachmaninoff for their famous compositions.  The composer’s overall concept was to use the variation technique to showcase every solo instrument and/or every instrumental section of the modern wind band.  In doing so, creating a piece that could be played almost anywhere for almost any kind of audience: a piece full of energy, drama, and even a little humor.