The piece is a variation set on the famous 24th Caprice by Paganini. While many composers, including Rachmaninoff and Liszt, have famously reinterpreted this theme, Fazıl Say's version stands out for its unabashed incorporation of jazz harmonies, syncopated rhythms, and a high-octane energetic approach.
You can purchase the official digital download (PDF) directly from the Schott Music Shop or Sheet Music Plus for approximately $12.00–$15.00 USD. You are paying for Say’s intellectual property and a clean, engraved edition without missing pages or fingerings.
Say's arrangement of Paganini's Caprices can be seen as a form of "jazification" of the original material. He maintains the core melodic and harmonic structures of the pieces, but infuses them with jazz rhythms, harmonies, and phrasing. The results are fascinating, as Say's arrangements create a dialogue between the original classical material and the improvisational, syncopated feel of jazz. fazil say paganini jazz pdf
If you are looking at the PDF to learn the piece, be aware of these difficulties:
Fazıl Say is a living, active composer. His works are under strict copyright protection. The piece is a variation set on the
For pianists looking to conquer this challenging repertoire, finding a is the first step toward mastering a piece that bridges classical virtuosity with the rhythms and harmonies of modern jazz. What is Fazil Say’s "Paganini Jazz"?
: While Paganini’s original Caprices are in the public domain, Fazıl Say’s 1988 arrangement is not. You will likely only find the original 19th-century source material there. Performance Guide & Preparation To master this piece, focus on these three core areas: Technical Foundation Stride Bass You are paying for Say’s intellectual property and
Say is not just a performer of the past; he is a disruptor. His Paganini Jazz , written in 1995, is a perfect example. Taking Niccolò Paganini’s iconic —already a notorious "theme and variations" for violin—Say reimagines it through a distinctly American jazz lens. The result is a piece that feels simultaneously ancient (classical form) and dangerously new (swing, stride, and bebop).
Composed in 1988 and revised in subsequent years, Paganini Jazz is a brilliant set of variations for solo piano. Fazıl Say transforms Paganini’s dark, driving violin theme into an upbeat, stride-infused showstopper.
He reached the coda. This was the part where the PDF looked like a printer error—so many black dots on the page, a frantic scramble of notes meant to simulate the frenzied energy of a gypsy violin or a frantic improvisation.