Paganini: Violin Concerto No.2, Op.7

Introduction

The Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 7, was composed by Niccolò Paganini in Italy in 1826. In his Second Concerto, Paganini holds back on the demonstration of virtuosity in favour of greater individuality in the melodic style. The third movement of Paganini's Second Concerto owes its nickname "La Campanella" or "La Clochette" to the little bell which Paganini prescribes to presage each recurrence of the rondo theme. The character of the bell is also imitated in the orchestra and in some of the soloist's passages featuring harmonics. The outcome is a very transparent texture, which gains extra charm of gypsy coloration of the rondo theme. This movement has served as the basis of compositions by other composers, such as the Étude S.140 No.3 "La campanella" by Liszt, and Strauss I's Walzer à la Paganini Op.11.

The concerto is in three movements:

1. Allegro maestoso (in B minor, ending in B major)
2. Adagio (in D major)
3. Rondo à la clochette (with bells) (in B minor)

In popular culture

• The piece is played and referenced to by Ethan Gold, acted by Fab Filippo in the multi award-winning North American Drama Queer as Folk.