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Scan 94
Cyclopedia of music and musicians, 1888
6 lines. Read by computer on 9 September 2026. Printed page 64. See the scan on archive.org.
1PAGANINI
3PAGANINI, NICCOLÒ, born in Genoa, Oct. 27, 1782, died at Nice, May 27, 1840.
5The father of this most famous of all violin virtuosi was a small tradesman, with no musical culture, but a decided love for the art; as soon as he perceived his son's marked musical gift, he gave him regular instruction on the mandolin, which instrument he played himself. But he soon turned him over to abler teachers, first to G. Servetto, and then to G. Costa, the Genoese maestro di cappella, with both of whom the young Niccolò studied the violin. At the age of eight the boy's proficiency was already remarkable, and he had composed a sonata for his instrument. His first public appearance was in 1793 in Genoa, he playing variations on La carmagnole with great success. Every Sunday, too, he would play a violin concerto in church. About 1795 he was taken to Parma to study under Alessandro Rolla, who gave him some lessons; he studied also for some time under Ghiretti, who had been Paër's teacher. In after-life Paganini always denied having taken lessons from Rolla, but it is almost certain that he really did. But, whoever his teachers were, he began so soon to explore new paths in violin playing that he must be considered as to a great extent self-taught. On his return to Genoa he composed his first studies, which contained then unheard-of difficulties, and gave himself up to the most arduous practising. His father's strict control was exceedingly irksome to him, and when he was allowed to go to Lucca to play at a musical festival in November, 1798 (his first journey alone), he did not return to his family, but made an independent tour through Pisa and some other towns. He was addicted to all sorts of dissipation, although only sixteen; fits of illness, brought on by his habits, would interrupt his practice and his appearances in public, and his youthful excesses undoubtedly laid the foundation of his general ill-health in later life. In Leghorn he had gambled away everything, even to his violin; and, to enable him to play at a concert, one M. Levron lent him a fine Joseph Guarnerius, which he afterwards presented to him, in delight at his performance. This Guarnerius remained his favourite violin through life, and he bequeathed it to the town of Genoa, where it is still kept under glass in the Municipal Palace. The painter Pisani also gave him an admirable Stradivarius. In 1801 Paganini withdrew to the château of a lady of rank, where he lived in retirement four years, practising the guitar, and writing two sets of sonatas (op. 2 and 3) for guitar and violin. In 1804 he returned to Genoa, and once more took up violin practice, studying Locatelli's "Arte di nuova modulazione," and other of his studies, and doing his best to outdo their difficulties. In 1805 he set out on fresh travels, creating immense enthusiasm wherever he appeared. At Lucca, where he lived until 1808, as court violinist, he began his famous performances on the G-string alone. After 1808 he never accepted another regular position, but led a roving life, full of adventures, and not always devoid of danger from outraged husbands and fathers, and audiences with whom he allowed himself to take undue liberties. But his artistic success was constant; in Milan he gave in 1813 thirty-seven concerts. He came out victor in two violin contests—with Lafont in Milan in 1816, and with Lipinski at Piacenza in 1817. Pope Leo XII. conferred on him, in 1827, the order of the Golden Spur. His first trip outside of Italy was in 1828, when (March 9) he gave his first concert in Vienna; his reception was unexampled, the city giving him the grand gold medal of St. Salvator, and the Emperor making him
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