Ghiribizzo 26: Arietta
Niccolo Paganini
Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) was born in Genova. He got his first violin lessons from his father and soon studied with the best teachers in town. When he took off to Parma at an age of 13, he appeared so well trained, that no teacher could improve anything. A bit disappointed the young Niccolo started self-study, in which he developed his virtuosity, which some gossiped to be of diabolic nature.
After a short term as court musician at the court of Elisa Bacciocchi, Napoleon's sister, in Lucca, Paganini decided to become a free-lance musician and started an extensive tour in Europe. This tour yielded him fame and wealth. Unfortunately he had an exorbitant life style, spending money much more easy than earning it. He was a passionate gambler, who even attempted to open a casino in Paris. He died in Nice after an intense life, not so far away from the Principality of Monaco, which would become a gambler's paradise in the same century.
Paganini's playing skills were considered more than his composing abilities. He composed 24 Caprices for violin, which were so technically advanced, that he was the only one who could play them. This gave rise to the rumour that Paganini had made a pact with the devil. Of course this was utterly nonsense. A rare anomaly in his finger joints enabled him to execute the 'diabolic' double stoppings.
Paganini was an excellent guitarist too. His Sonatas for violin and guitar are a true example of this.
This Arietta is a Ghiribizzo -a musical pleasantry- by Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840). He wrote 43 Ghiribizzi for an unknown Neapolitan girl.
Normally Paganini’s guitar works are packed with technical difficulties and painful stretches (his fingers were sooo long), but in this set he checked himself. He succeeded to write pieces with a strong musical idea and some Paganinian virtuosity nevertheless. So fortunately, this tender Arietta is easy to play, without advanced finger gymnastics.