Sarasate Caprice Basque Op 24 for Violin Quartet

Sarasate's Caprice Basque, Op. 24 was written as a showpiece for a solo violinist, and this arrangement keeps that spirit intact while spreading the demands across four players. It came about through a commission: a customer wanted to perform the Caprice Basque in a quartet setting, and the arrangement was built specifically for that purpose.

The challenge of writing for four violins is making sure each player has genuine musical work rather than filling in harmony behind a solo line. Sarasate's original is full of material: rapid passage work, driving Basque rhythmic figures, a melodic line that needs real presence and flair. The arrangement distributes that across all four parts so that every player contributes to the collective energy and character of the piece. The Basque idiom that runs through the original is preserved throughout.

At seven minutes, it's a substantial chamber item with enough variety and momentum to hold a concert programme slot on its own.

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: Violin Quartet (Violin I, Violin II, Violin III, Violin IV)
• Difficulty: Diploma / Professional (all parts)
• Duration: approximately 7 minutes
• Style focus: Basque character, ensemble virtuosity, active writing across all four parts
• Format: PDF download, full score and all four violin parts

Who it's for

This suits professional and conservatoire violin quartets looking for a high-energy showpiece with genuine demands on every player. It works well in violin ensemble concerts and advanced chamber music programmes where something immediately striking is needed.

This arrangement began as a commission. If you have a piece you'd like arranged for a specific combination, Paul offers a bespoke arranging service: mymusicscores.com/score-request