Music for the devil:

Niccolò Paganini

Bárbara Lara del RíoEl Altillo School

General outline

• Biography.• A fated genius?• A gift or a disease?• Compositions.• Instruments.• His legacy in our music.• Summary.• Test.

Biography

• Violinist, guitarist and composer.• October 27, 1782 (Italy)• May 27, 1840 (France)• Modern violin techniques.• A son ( Achilles Cyrus Alexander) with

Antonia Bianchi.• Miser and careless.• Wild life, gambler.

A fated genius?

• Paganini’s mother premonition about his ability.

• Five years old mandolin• Seven years old violin• Ten hours a day. No food.• Alessandro Rolla: “I have nothing to

teach you”.• Internationally recognized.• Demoniac fame.

A gift or a disease?

• Laxity and hypermobility.• Cronic illness:

-Marfan syndrome: - Long limbs and fingers. - Defects on patient’s aorta valve.

-Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: - Laxity and hypermobility. - 11 types. Paganini type 3.

Compositions

• He composed for his own concerts.

• Evolution in violin techniques.

• 24 caprices for violin (1805-1809).

• 15 quartets for guitar (1806-1820).

Caprice No. 24 in A minor

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn3HLT7mzoQ&feature=related

• Most famous piece of Paganini.• Theme, 11 variations, final.• Most difficult piece.• Highly advanced techniques, fast

movements.

Instruments

• Livron gave him “Il Cannone Guarnerius”• Guarneri violin.• Two Amati violins.• Three Stradivari violins.• Two Stradivari violas.• Two Stradivari cellos.• Etc.

“Il Cannone Guarnerius”

His legacy in our music

• Agility of the fingers and the bow were considered unorthodox.

• Paganini didn’t create any new technique, but he popularized them.

• He could play impossible pieces thanks to his flexibility.

Summary

• Italian violinist, guitarist and composer (1782-1840).

• Paganini sold his soul to the devil to reach extraordinary skills.

• Cronic illness which gave him laxity and hipermobility.

• Most famous compositions: 24 Caprices.• His main violin: “Il Cannone Guarnerius”.• He revolutionized the music of his era.

Test

• Paganini was born in:a) Parmab) Genoac) Nice

• Which was his main violin?a) A stradivariusb) An Amatic) A Guarneri

• Did he invented any new violin technique?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION