Ghiribizzi 37: Paganini meets Rossini
Niccolo Paganini
This is a Ghiribizzo -a musical pleasantry- by Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840). He wrote 43 Ghiribizzi for an unknown Neapolitan girl. For more biographical data of Paganini, refer to the description of Ghiribizzo 26: Aria.
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.
Chiribizzo 37 possibly is a reference to the meeting in Naples in 1820 between Paganini and Rossini, the master of the Italian Opera. Paganini already had borrowed some popular themes from Rossini’s operas to compose his own virtuoso arrangements. In those days one considered this as a gesture of appreciation and admiration rather than a violation of the copyright!
Doubtlessly both gentlemen have played some music together after the enjoyment of a beautiful Tournedos (Rossini was a legendary gourmet). This Ghiribizzo has two themes, one referring to Rossini, and one depicting Paganini in a slightly more lengthy manner.