The Importance of Paganini

There is more written about Paganini than any other violinist in history. Below is a brief overview and some recommendations for further reading:

• Born in Genoa 1782
• Did not come from particularly musical background
• Clearly prodigy by age 5
• Also studied guitar and composition
• Lived in a time of great eccentricity and mediocrity
• Many musicians in Italian orchestras cared more about the money than the music
• Had to be extrovert in his performance as it was normal in Italy at the time
• Attracted large audiences because he encouraged myths and rumours about his personal life:  perfected his talent when imprisoned for murder; violin strings made from the intestines of a mistress he murdered
• Despite being thought of as a virtuoso, Paganini also appreciated the musical advantages of playing things such as Beethoven’s string quartets
• Refused to play works by other violinist-composers as they did not show off his superior virtuosity
• Many say he was the greatest violinist who ever lived, but he would have to be compared to violinists who came after him who were far less limited in what they performed
• Always going to be differing opinions depending on individuals taste. Some said his sound was warm, some called it icy cold
• Have to judge within his own time – e.g. would not have used modern vibrato
• Not equipped to perform the musical challenges that developed after his death
• Virtuoso technique largely depended on his peculiar manner of holding the violin.
• Neck of violin pointed downwards
• Both upper arms held close to the body
• One foot placed slightly forward
• Extreme flexibility – capable of playing 3 8ves across 4 strings in hand span – Marfans syndrome
• Can learn essence of Paganini as a violinist through his compositions
• 24 caprices, 6 concertos + sets of variations are his main compositions

Caprices

• Not only surpassed composers such as Kreutzer and Viotti in technical challenges, but also in basic musical substance
• Often performed more like pieces than studies
• No evidence that any violinist, including Paganini himself, performed the caprices during his lifetime
• In many international competitions, one or more Paganini caprices are obligatory for contestants
• How many of our finest contemporary violinists would have been able to compose such a renowned set of caprices by age 25?!

Concertos

• Technically very challenging, but adhere more to the established style of Italy at the time
• Again, better reputation than Kreutzer, Road, Tartini + Viotti, not only technically but also in dramatic content.
• Some label the concertos as ‘poor music’, but perhaps these people are just violinists who cannot play them!

Theme and Variations

• Possibly most difficult of his compositions
• Often based on themes by other composers e.g. God Save the King, Moses fantasy by Rossini
• Many similar efforts followed by similar composers such as Sarasate

Further Reading

• Sugden, John, Paganini (London: Omnibus Press, 1986)
• Roth, Henry, Violin Virtuosos; From Paganini to the 21^st Century (Los Angeles: California Classics Books, 1997)
• Paganini, Nicolo, Capricen Op. 1(Frankfurt: Peters, n.d)
• Rachmaninov, Sergey, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Op. 43, reduction for two pianos (London: Boosey & Hawkes, 2003)
• Grove Music Online