In fact, the title Capriccio was a direct reference to the famously brilliant Caprices for violin by Niccolò Paganini,
which Ligeti had encountered as a child.
[15] In contrast to the lyrical, rubato Dialogo, the Capriccio is written almost entirely in an unrelenting 3/8 pattern, breaking only once, abruptly in the middle for a truncated reminiscence of the Dialogo.
The opening is marked "Presto con slancio" (very quick with impetus) and "forte vigoroso".