Paganini Moses Fantasy for Violin and String Orchestra

Paganini: Mosè Fantasy for Violin and String Orchestra (Two Versions)

Paganini's Mosè Fantasy is a set of variations on the prayer "Dal tuo stellato soglio" from Rossini's opera Mosè in Egitto, and one of the most demanding showpieces in the violin repertoire — written to demonstrate what a single G string could do when tuned down to B♭ (scordatura). This edition arranges it for solo violin and string orchestra and includes two complete versions: one in Paganini's original scordatura setting, and one for standard tuning.

The scordatura is the key to understanding this piece. With the G string tuned down to B♭, the soloist plays passages that would be awkward or impossible at standard pitch, and the lowered string produces a particular richness and resonance that transforms the character of the melody. Paganini notates the solo part as if for standard tuning — the player reads familiar fingerings while sounding a tone lower — which is initially disorienting but ultimately liberating once it becomes instinctive. The second version transposes everything to standard pitch for situations where the tuning adjustment isn't practical, or where a player is getting to know the piece before committing to the scordatura.

The string orchestra provides harmonic and rhythmic support rather than a busy accompaniment — the focus stays firmly on the soloist, as Paganini intended. The orchestral writing is idiomatic for strings throughout, and the parts sit well under the fingers of an advanced ensemble without the orchestra needing to match the soloist's technical demands.

At six minutes, this is a substantial concert number — long enough to anchor a programme but concise enough to sit alongside other works. It works particularly well in the second half of a recital, where an audience is settled and ready for something technically spectacular. The scordatura version adds historical authenticity worth noting in programme notes.

See and hear the difference

Check the score and parts preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear picture of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Violin + String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
• Difficulty: Diploma / Professional (solo); Advanced (ensemble)
• Duration: approximately 6 minutes
• Versions: two complete arrangements — scordatura (G string tuned to B♭) and standard tuning — both included in one PDF
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts for both versions

Who it's for

This suits professional and conservatoire recitals where a technically spectacular showpiece is needed, and it's an unusual choice that stands out from the standard concerto repertoire. The two-version format makes it genuinely flexible: perform the authentic scordatura version where the setting calls for it, or use the standard-tuning version for competitions, examinations, or situations where the tuning adjustment isn't practical.