Page 148 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

146

THE VIOLINIST IS THAT

PECULIARLY HUMAN

PHENOMENON … HALF

TIGER, HALF POET

24 CAPRICES FOR SOLO VIOLIN, OP. 1 (1824),
NICCOLÒ PAGANINI

iolinist-composer Niccolò that he had struck a deal with
IN CONTEXT Paganini’s career as an the devil in return for his gifts.
V international performer His greatest triumphs were
FOCUS lasted just six years, from 1828 to in Paris, which was in thrall to
The rise of the virtuoso
1834, but his influence on music grand spectacle, new technology,
BEFORE was immense. Setting out to and brilliance in every field.
1733 Pietro Locatelli publishes entertain, he introduced new
L’arte del violino, which inspires playing techniques and raised Technical innovations
Paganini’s own Caprices. the expectations of audiences, Paganini had studied and honed
performing feats no one had his art in Italy. It is thought that
1740 The violinist Giuseppe achieved before him. He owned he started composing his 24
Tartini, known for his fast and numerous violins, including a Caprices in the early 1800s, even
exciting playing, epitomized by handful by perhaps the greatest though he did not publish them
his violin sonata Devil’s Trill, maker of all, Antonio Stradivarius. until 1820. In these showpiece
makes a concert tour of Italy. Chronic illness, thought to be works, and numerous others, he
Marfan syndrome, left Paganini challenged every aspect of existing
AFTER looking gaunt. This led to rumors violin technique and introduced
1834 Hector Berlioz completes new ideas designed to showcase
Harold en Italie, a symphony the performer’s skills. The pieces
featuring a solo viola part are peppered with breakneck
composed for Paganini. passage work, double- or even

1838 Franz Liszt publishes triple-stopping (bowing two or
an early form of his technically Easter Sunday; in the three strings at the same time), as
demanding Études d’exécution evening I heard Paganini. well as new tricks such as left-hand
transcendante d’après What ecstasy! In his hands pizzicato (using the fingers of the
Paganini (“Transcendental the driest exercises flame up left hand to pluck the strings) and
studies after Paganini”), in like bithium pronouncements. ricochet (bouncing bowing).
which he transcribed six of Robert Schumann Inspired by Paganini
Paganini’s violin caprices for As a 19-year-old, in 1831, the
solo piano.
Hungarian composer Franz Liszt
heard Paganini in Paris and was
inspired to achieve the same level
of virtuosity on the piano and to

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