Many classical and later composers have written compositions in the form of variations on a theme by another composer.
This is an incomplete list of such works, sorted by the name of the original composer. The list does not include variations written on composers' own or original themes, or on folk, traditional or anonymous melodies.
Many of these works are called simply "Variations on a Theme of/by ...". Other works, which often involve substantial development or transformation of the base material, may have more fanciful titles such as Caprice, Fantasy, Paraphrase, Reminiscences, Rhapsody, etc. These other types of treatments are not listed here unless there is evidence that they include variations on a theme.
Thomas is disputed as the author of the words
- Sergei Aslamazyan: Variations on a Theme by Paganini (string quartet; 1961)
- Leopold Auer: Arranged the Caprice No. 24 in A minor for violin with piano accompaniment, and added some variations of his own
- James Barnes: Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Niccolò Paganini (concert band; the theme is the Caprice No. 24)
- Boris Blacher: Variations on a Theme by Paganini (orchestra; 1947)
- Hans Bottermund: Variations on a Theme by Paganini (solo cello)
- Johannes Brahms: Variations on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 35 (piano; 1863)
- Alfredo Casella: Paganiniana (Casella) a Divertimento for orchestra Opus 65
- Carl Czerny: Grandes variations brillantes sur le thème original favori colla campanella (Glöckchen Rondo), Op. 170 (piano 4-hands)
- Luigi Dallapiccola: Sonatina canonica in mi bemolle maggiore su Capricci di Niccolò Paganini : per pianoforte (1946)
- Søren Nils Eichberg: Variations on a Theme by Niccolò Paganini (solo cello; 2005)
- Marc-André Hamelin: Variations on a Theme by Niccolò Paganini (piano: 2011)
- Stephen Heller: Thème de Paganini varié, Op. 1
- Joseph Horovitz: Variations on a Theme of Paganini (brass quartet; 1974)
- Gary Kulesha: Variations on a Theme by Paganini (trumpet and piano; 1974, rev. 1982)
- Lowell Liebermann: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for piano and orchestra (2001)
- Franz Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini No. 3 and No. 6 (piano; 1851), revised from the earlier Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini of 1838
- Andrew Lloyd Webber: 23 Variations (cello and rock band: 1977)
- Witold Lutosławski: Variations on a Theme by Paganini (2 pianos, 1941; piano and orchestra, 1978)
- Nathan Milstein: Paganiniana, an arrangement of the 24th Caprice, with variations based on the other caprices
- Robert Muczynski: "Desperate Measures" Paganini Variations, Op. 48
- Pavel Necheporenko: Variations on a Theme by Paganini (transcribed for unaccompanied balalaika)
- Frank Proto: Nine Variants on Paganini for Double Bass and Orchestra (2001; also for double bass and piano)
- Manuel Quiroga: 9 Variations on Paganini's Caprice No. 24 (violin and piano); 12 Variations on Paganini's Caprice No. 24 (violin and piano)
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 (piano and orchestra; 1934)
- Poul Ruders: Paganini Variations (guitar and orchestra, 2000; solo version, 2002)
- Ehsan Saboohi: Metamorphosis on Theme of Paganini (piano; 2009)
- Fazıl Say: Paganini Variations (piano)
- Robert Schumann:
- Etudes after Paganini Caprices, Op. 3 (1832)
- Variationen zum Glöckchenthema (piano; unpub.)
- Konstantin Sorokin: Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 62 No. 8 (piano)
- Sir George Thalben-Ball: Variations on a Theme by Paganini (pedal keyboard)
- Philip Wilby: Paganini Variations (wind band; brass band)
- August Wilhelmj: Einleitung, Thema mit Variationen nach Niccolo Paganini
- Rob Zuidam: Variations on a thema of Paganini (violin-solo)
See also Variations on a Theme of Paganini (disambiguation)