PAGANINI
"The Devil was at his elbow!"
An Inktroduction
by Ong Yong Hui and Chia Han-Leon
Paganini's appearance on stage had a tremendous influence everywhere in Europe during the time. Two guineas was then known as the "paganinearl" as that was the ticket price to his concerts, and kings and queens showered him with a sizeable collection of jewel-encased snuff boxes. Endless rumours, slanderous remarks and poems have been written about him, making him probably one of the most controversial musicians in music history. And the reason for this universal show of histronics? His incredible, and possibly still unsurpassed, faculties on the violin.
The Gamble of the Violin
Nothing too Difficult
Fittingly enough for this master of showmanship, he started the trend of playing from memory. In 1833 he settled in Paris and commissioned Berlioz to write his Harold in Italy - but Paganini never played it supposedly because he thought the viola part was too easy! Berlioz recorded in his Memoirs Paganini's reaction: "That's no good. There's not enough for me to do here. I should be playing all the time."
Two Strings Are Better than Four
Left: Photograph of Paganini in action? According to one of our commentators (see below), this is a faked photograph. Click here for more info. The Flying Inkpot is indebted to Mr Ted Gegoux for this information.
Pretty soon, newspapers gave up trying to describe his concerts which left everyone speechless. Nobody could add to the list of exhausted adjectives used to praise his performances. Violinists attend his concert to hear the man who dared to compose the impossible 24 Caprices,
and who had the nerve to claim that he can play them too. Paganini was a performer who could count Schumann, Schubert, and
Liszt as part of the audience, the last who was so inspired by him that he went on to become the
Paganini for the piano. In short, he single-handedly inspired the virtuosic movement and left a great legacy to music history.
From 1834, Paganini made few appearances in public and died in Nice on May 27th 1840, of cancer of the larynx - and was reputed to have been buried alive! All this, whether true or not, added on to the already legendary name of Niccolò Paganini - the Devil’s Violinist.
A great man is rarely ever without his quirks. Paganini indulged excessively in gambling and romantic love affairs, and even went so far as to set up the "Casino Paganini", which unfortunately was a failure. (Perhaps he could have tried "Planet Paganini" or... hey, isn't it about time somebody made a film on this guy?). Nevertheless Paganini eventually achieved great fame in his many concert tours around Europe and was a rich man for much of his life. Before that, at one point he was in such dire straits that he had to pawn his own violin to settle his gambling debts. A French merchant later lent him a Guarneri violin to play at a concert and after hearing him, gave the violin to him! In any case, Paganini owned, by the time of his death, eleven Stradivari, two Amati and four Guarneri, as well as a Stradivarius viola and double bass.
Paganini’s many adventures and extraordinary indulgences apparently sparked off stories of his being in league with the devil and that he had even been imprisoned for murder. "The devil was at his elbow!" was the claim made to explain his technical prowess at the violin. Someone even swore that he saw the devil directing Paganini’s arm and guiding the bow! As a result, his burial in consecrated ground was actually delayed for 5 years.
Europe was constantly in search of novelty at that time, and Paganini appeared at the right moment to surprise that world with his talents on the fiddle. Everywhere he went, his reputation arrived much earlier than he did, and his concerts had people flooding the hall above its capacity - the equivalent of pop artistes today. He did everything that no other violinist could do or even dream of, dazzling the crowd with left-hand pizzicati, extensive doublestopping parts and ricochet phrases. A favourite act of his, which critics frowned upon as a circus trick, was to play demanding variations on a theme using only the G string.
His technique demanded an extensive use of then unheard-of methods and effects. Always a flamboyant showman, Paganini possessed extraordinary powers of improvisation and would sometimes - deliberately - sever one or two strings on his violin and continue to play on the remaining strings! Although his skills are no longer considered unique or impossible, he can nevertheless be credited as the pioneer of the use of harmonics, special effects obtained by special methods of tuning, several styles of bowing as well as new ways of using staccato and pizzicato.
Inhuman Proportions
Paganini excited the curiosity of all who saw him due to his strange appearance and his technical virtuosity. He was evidently very thin and gaunt: "His bony fingers seemed to stretch from one end of the violin fingerboard to the other without effort; and it has been asserted that without such a length of finger he never could have played the passages he is known to have executed."
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240: 12.7.1998. up.3.5.2000 ©Ong Yong Hui & Chia Han-Leon
Readers' Comments
From: Jaime Zavala Benavente (jzavalab@hotmail.com / Friday, October 23, 1998 at 03:12:18)
Great Page!! Paganini is the greatest performer in the Music
History!!! You can visit my page, it contents Transcriptions
of Paganini's Music for Guitar.The Location is:
http://members.tripod.com/~JZavalaB/Trans.html
Bye!
From: richard (legondofiron@webtv.net / Sunday, December 13, 1998 at 19:16:58)
paganini is by far my fav. if anyone would like to chat about him please drop me a line
I heard that when in jail he wrote a song on just the g string.
if you have any good paganini sites please send them to me.
i study his works and transpose some phrases of the 24 caprices to guitar, i also teach.
From: Ted Gegoux (ted@gegoux.com / Sunday, April 18, 1999 at 00:11:30)
FYI
The Paganini "photo" on your page is a fake.
Please see http://www.gegoux.com/fake.htm
Please also see http://www.gegoux.com/viol.htm
Ted
From: Ted Gegoux (ted@gegoux.com / Sunday, April 18, 1999 at 00:14:27)
Wonderful page, thank you. Ted
From: ROCKY PAGANINI (PAGAROCK@EARTHLINK.NET / Tuesday, June 8, 1999 at 01:54:46)
I MUST ADD THAT "OLD PAG" LOST HIS FIRST REAL VIOLIN TO PAY A GAMING DEBT WHEN HE WAS STILL IN HIS LATE TEENS. MR. ROSSI GAVE HIM WHAT IS CALLED "THE BIG GUN" TO FINISH THE PERFORMANCES.
From: Ivan Martinetti (martineti5@aol.com / Monday, August 2, 1999 at 10:48:32)
Thank you for this great page. I think is wonderful.
From: linda hamilton (lh@worldnet.att.net / Thursday, October 28, 1999 at 03:16:36)
I would like to know about the instruments Paganini used. Are any still in exsistance? If so, who owns it/them and what are they worth, today.
From: Derek Lim (derek@magix.com.sg / Friday, November 19, 1999 at 17:34:11)
Dear Linda,
A very interesting page named "The Way Famous String Instruments Went" may be found at http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1844/strad.html
Take a look and spend many hours there!
Derek
From: Joon (jonfrohnen@hotmail.com / Friday, January 28, 2000 at 13:33:14)
I couldn't help but notice that you were missing a few compositions from your list.
They are: Andate and Allegro Vivo Op.3, Palpiti, Nel cor piu non mi sento, Non Piu Mesta, Priere du Moise,
From: forich (ganon@metallica.com / Monday, May 1, 2000 at 11:49:01)
great site!!
If anyone is interested, there is a guitar player from Sweden who plays like paganini. His name is Yngwie Malmsteen.
From: Janne kashem (st98102@yahoo.com / Monday, October 9, 2000 at 16:53:44)
soitan paganinin capriiseita kitaralla niistä saa mahtavia ideoita soittoon.
From: N. Corelli (violini@cannabismail.com / Thursday, November 9, 2000 at 04:00:34)
Io sono un violinista , e anch'io suono i 24 capricci di Niccolo Paganini
From: Justin (phred1@prodigy.net / Friday, November 24, 2000 at 03:47:41)
I have a Paganini concert violin made by stradivari. I don't know how much it is worth or if it is even an authentic piece. I acquired it through an old man who moved out of one of my houses. If someone could respond with a value or some sort of indicating feature for an authentic piece that would be great.
Thank you
From: (lowdz@aol.com / Monday, August 13, 2001 at 03:54:43)
Enjoyed the article. Paganin was the founder of rock music and 150 years ahead of his time. Anyone who enjoys his works will enjoy the Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra by Yngwie J Malmsteen, recorded with the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Yoel Levi.
From: bob (bob@hotmail.com / Tuesday, October 2, 2001 at 00:33:24)
hi i love your sight but you boring spise it up a bit muic or somthing
From: adinegara (adinegara81@yahoo.com / Monday, November 5, 2001 at 11:31:09)
Hi my name is adi , actually I don't play violin , but I interest in violin since I found my grand father violin, I wonder if you could give me any information about my violin instrument because on the scroll , on the top of my violin there is a head of Nicolo paganini and beatiful carf ..
From: ( / Saturday, November 24, 2001 at 16:44:25)
From: julio rodrigo cortez cruz (stojkovic8@hotmail.com / Tuesday, December 11, 2001 at 13:06:32)
paganini Rocks!
From: Antonio (camera220@juno.com / Tuesday, December 25, 2001 at 10:08:16)
There was a very beautiful film made in 1947 about the life of Paganini. It stared Stewart Granger and is my favorite film. Yahudi Menhuin played all the music but it was expertly faked by Granger.
From: Francesco (fvianelli@tiscalinet.it / Monday, January 14, 2002 at 02:46:36)
Congratulazioni bella pagina ! E' una gioa vedere così tanti appassionati della musica di Paganini ! Ciao e ricordate "Paganini non ripete "
From: Mizraim (astuto999@hotmail.com / Saturday, March 16, 2002 at 07:46:42)
No existe mejor compositor que Paganini , e interprete Ruggiero Ricci ...
From: Matias (maputens@yahoo.com.ar / Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 00:25:45)
Cuantas mentiras acerca de Paganini!!!!!!!
Miren el retrato hecho por su amigo, el pintor frances, no se ve ninguna mano deforme ni nada por el estilo.
El logro de Paganini se consigue con esfuerzo y dedicacion:
15 horas por dia tocando el violin!!!!!!!!!
From: Lorna (lornacoates@hotmail.com / Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 21:37:41)
The reason Paganini was denied burial in consecrated ground for five years was not that he was thought to be in league with the devil (although a lot of people did believe that). On his deathbed Paganini refused the Last Rites, thinking he would recover. It took a lawsuit to overturn an archbishop's denial of burial rights.
From: Dexter Norville (dexterity21@hotmail.com / Thursday, April 25, 2002 at 04:25:16)
I am probably the biggest paganini fan in the world. I am however not a violinist but a flute virtuoso who specialises in 19th century exhibitionism. I am still in university but I perform my own transcriptions of paganini's works.
From: Zecchini Editore (info@zecchini.com / Thursday, May 2, 2002 at 23:43:34)
Gent.ma lettori,
abbiamo il piacere di presentarLe i due volumi scritti da Francesco Sfilio che fu allievo diretto di Camillo Sivori, unico discepolo di Paganini, il quale svela i fondamenti e i segreti della tecnica violinistica paganiniana. I due volumi sono a tiratura limitata, numerati da 1 a 2000 su concessione del Ministero delle Finanze. Sono presentati dall’anziano allievo di Sfilio: Giuseppe Gaccetta.
Il volume Alta Cultura di tecnica violinistica è un manuale tascabile dove confluiscono l’esperienza e la sensibilità di un didatta di altissimo profilo. E’ disponibile anche una versione in lingua inglese.
Il volume Nuova Scuola Violinistica Italiana è un metodo diviso in due parti: “Metodo per principianti” e “Tecnica superiore dell’arco e della mano sinistra” con una parte centrale dedicata al suono, al modo di tenere l’arco e a tutte le tecniche legate alla scuola di Sfilio. Questo metodo è stato pensato in italiano con l’aggiunta di quattro lingue tradotte simultaneamente (inglese, tedesco, francese e spagnolo).
Il nostro sforzo per avvicinarci agli studenti è stato quello di contenere il prezzo al pubblico del manuale (Alta Cultura di tecnica violinistica, pagg. 96) in € 10,00 (nella versione inglese € 15,00) e il prezzo del metodo (Nuova Scuola Violinistica Italiana, pagg. 108) in € 30,00.
Siamo convinti che, dopo una Sua attenta analisi, potrà valutare l’importanza di queste due pubblicazioni con preghiera di darne notizia ai Vostri lettori.
Questi due volumi potranno rivoluzionare il mondo della scuola violinistica internazionale.
Certi di un Suo cortese riscontro La ringraziamo e La salutiamo cordialmente,
Zecchini Editore
VARESE - Italia
www.zecchini.com
info@zecchini.com
From: JOMAR (jomar@miami.edu / Tuesday, November 5, 2002 at 01:29:08)
The 1947 movie starring Stewart Granger about Paganini, is titled "The Magic Bow".
From: CORNELLIUS DU SARIA ( / Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 03:57:03)
PROVENGO DE LAS TIERRAS DEL SUR, DONDE HIPOSTASIS TAN PROFUNDA COMO LA QUE LOGRA LA MUSICA DE PAGANINI ES CASI IMPALPABLE A CAUSA DE LA VILEZA DEL CONSUMISMO DEL IMPERIUM COMERCIAL... HE DE SUSCITAR LA CALIDAD DEL HECHO DE DEDICAR SU CAMINO A LA SUBLIME Y FRENETICAMENTE LACONICA OBRA DE PAGANINI QUIEN ENTREGA AL LETARGO ETERNO A CUANTA ALMA SE FILTRA DE SUS PROPIOS OIDOS A LAS CUERDAS DEL PROPIO NICCOLO...GRACIAS EXCELENTE PAGINA
From: Markus (rtckvh2@hotmail.com / Monday, December 30, 2002 at 04:13:09)
I would like to ad the fact that paganini suffered from a deasese now days known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which gave him extraodenary flexibility, it is therefor not such a mystery that he could gaine such a technique. This also explain his strange appereance.
From: Valerio (violin1981@hotmail.com / Saturday, February 22, 2003 at 04:40:19)
Paganini è il mio mito!E vedere che siamo in tanti mi rende proprio felice!!
From: Valerio (violin1981@hotmail.com / Saturday, February 22, 2003 at 04:40:26)
Paganini è il mio mito!E vedere che siamo in tanti mi rende proprio felice!!
From: ( / Tuesday, February 25, 2003 at 05:40:31)
From: michele (cassy_girl30@hotmail.com / Saturday, November 22, 2003 at 22:06:23)
I totally agree with Dexter Norville. Paganini is by far the greatest musician ever.Is there anyone out there who is trying to walk in his footsteps besides the pianist Andrew Quartermain?
From: Joe Thorpe (joet@jorl.com / Saturday, February 21, 2004 at 15:37:24)
Glenn Gould may also have suffered from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, most of his "eccentricities" are common for sufferers of that disease, along with a very pale skin and sensitivity to cold, etc.
From: Staresy (Jaggyaxe@hotmail.com / Saturday, March 13, 2004 at 04:10:02)
Good site, thanks for all the info on Paganini! And apperently a screenplay has been written about Paganini's life by Bruce Dickinson (Vocalist for Iron Maiden) who is in fact a published author! A film about this man certainly would be interesting, tragidy, triumph and mysticism.......sounds like its all there to me!
From: Adam (k457c@hotmail.com / Saturday, April 24, 2004 at 02:23:27)
There is of course Klaus Kinski's film entitled "Paganini" (1989). I spent quite some time tracking it down recently, and only found it on Amazon.de,eventually. Now i have the DVD set. It's a very extreme film (as you would expect from Klaus Kinski) and does'nt follow the usual methods of film making by any means. More of an art film. Klaus was obsessed with Paganini since childhood, and threw himself into the role (aswell as directing it) to an obsessive degree. Certainly worth a watch. You can buy the 2DVD set, with the release version on Disc 1,Kinski's original edit on Disc 2, and the making of it. For all it's strangeness and confusion, it really does grow on you.
From: Michael Pys (Headpain2000@aol.com / Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 09:10:07)
Hello !
I am looking for movie about Nicolo Paganini.
Please help.
I was born in USSR and i did see very good movie about him.
My douther is 8 y.o. she is plying violin for 5 years.
I would love her to see this movie.
Thank you very much.
Michael Pys
Glenview Illinois
tel: 847-770-3332
From: michael sanborn (famsanborn@yahoo.com / Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 04:53:50)
Hi, I just checked out a dvd by Klaus Kinski called "kinski paganini" about the life of niccola paganini. it could have been filmed in 2003, but i am not sure. one thing for sure is that the movie is not for children. klaus kinsky portrays paganini, and directs the movie using only natural lighting technics. I was impressed. There is a lot of sexual content and mad violin playing which actually compliment each other well. The women are completely crazy and behave no different than those old films of women at a beatles' concert. i new nothing of paganini and saw the dvd at of library of all places. best euro that i have spent in a long time. i am sure based on paganini's reputation, the movie wouldn't shock anyone. any one who know's about his history should expect nothing less or more. the movie was well done, but definately was filmed low budget. i like the film and now i am ready to buy a cd of paganini the pagan's music.
From: alex (alexdaponte9@bellsouth.net / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 at 04:09:01)
this site is great I llove using it in reports for school and even just for fun.Alex 12 Ga
From: brendan (granmama@netbay.com.au / Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 17:01:39)
i was just reading your article on paganini, and it said when is someone going to make a film about this guy? there is a brilliant film that i've seen about one hundred times, it's called the magic bow, starring stewart granger, i think it was made in 1945 or thereabouts. the violin music that's performed is by menuhin. i have also read that the photo is a fake and that no photo exists of paganini. also, when oh when are some of these spoilt kids with their guarneris and strads going to start writing their own music for once? imagine if all the young electric guitarists of the world kept making recordings of joe satriani or steve vai all the time. anyway, see-ya.
From: ellie chapman (ellie_cheeky@hotmail.com / Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 01:17:33)
hey hey !your realy cool an dive been looking at your site for homework and its realy good m8 ! bye bye
x
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