The Violin Concerto no. 2 in Bm was composed by Paganini in 1826. In this work he held back on the virtuoso effects in favour of a more matura melodic style. The third movement owes its nickname of La Campanella to the little bell that 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 orchestation calls for solo violin, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, basoon, contrabasoon, 2 horns and 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, percussion, and strings.
