Niccolò Paganini

Italian violinist and composer

Niccolò (or Nicolò) Paganini (Italian: [ni(k)koˈlɔ ppaɡaˈniːni]; 27 October 1782 – 27 May 1840) was an Italian violinist, guitarist and composer. He was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His 24 Caprices for Solo Violin Op. 1 are among the best known of his compositions and have served as an inspiration for many prominent composers.

Son of a ship chandler from Genoa, Paganini showed great gifts for music from an early age and studied under Alessandro Rolla, Ferdinando Paer and Gasparo Ghiretti. Accompanied by his father, he toured northern Italy extensively as a teenager. By 1805 he had come into the service of Napoleon's sister, Elisa Bonaparte, who then ruled Lucca where Paganini was first violin. From 1809 on he returned to touring and achieved continental fame in the subsequent two and a half decades, developing a reputation for his technical brilliance and showmanship, as well as his extravagant, philandering lifestyle. Paganini ended his concert career in 1834 amid declining health, and the failure of his Paris casino left him in financial ruin. He retired and died in Nice (at that time still part of the Kingdom of Sardinia) in 1840 at the age of 57.

Read more about this composer on Wikipedia.

Works

The Long LineExplore Nine Centuries of Music

3 Duets, for violin and bassoon, MS130 Chamber
3 Duetti concertanti, for violin and cello, MS107 Chamber
3 Quartets, for guitar and strings, op. 4, MS28-30 Chamber
3 Quartets, for guitar and strings, op. 5, MS31-33 Chamber
4 Nocturnes, for string quartet, MS15 Chamber
4 Studies for Violin Solo Chamber
43 Ghiribizzi, MS43 Chamber
6 Duetti, for violin and guitar, MS110 Chamber
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS10, "Lucca Sonatas" Chamber
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS11, "Lucca Sonatas" Chamber
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS12, "Lucca Sonatas" Chamber
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS13, "Lucca Sonatas" Chamber
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS133, "Lucca Sonatas" Chamber
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS134, "Lucca Sonatas" Chamber
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS9, "Lucca Sonatas" Chamber
60 Variations on Barucabà, for violin and guitar, op. 14, MS71 Chamber
9 Quartets, for guitar and strings, MS34-42 Chamber
Adagio in E flat major, for violin and orchestra, MS49 Orchestral
Adagio in E major, for violin and orchestra, MS49 Orchestral
Allegretto in A major, MS86 Chamber
Allegretto in A major, MS90 Chamber
Allegretto in A minor, MS91 Chamber
Andantino in C major, MS89 Chamber
Andantino in C major, MS97 Chamber
Andantino in F minor, MS102 Chamber
Andantino in G major, MS88 Chamber
Andantino in G major, MS99 Chamber
Cantabile a Minuetto no. 3, MS126 Chamber
Cantabile and Waltz in E for Violin and Guitar, MS45 Chamber
Cantabile e Valtz no. 4, MS127 Chamber
Cantabile e Valtz no. 5, MS128 Chamber
Cantabile e Valtz no. 6, MS129 Chamber
Cantabile in D major, for violin and guitar, MS109 Chamber
Cantabile in D major, for violin and piano, MS109, op. 17 Chamber
Caprice d'adieu, for solo violin, MS68 Chamber
Carmagnola, variations for violin and guitar Chamber
Centone di Sonate no. 15 in A major, for guitar and violin, MS112/15 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 1 in A minor, for violin and guitar, MS112/1 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 10 in C major, for violin and guitar, MS112/10 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 11 in A minor, for violin and guitar, MS112/11 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 12 in D major, for violin and guitar, MS112/12 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 13 in E major, for violin and guitar, MS112/13 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 14 in G major, for violin and guitar, MS112/14 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 16 in E major, for violin and guitar, MS112/16 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 17 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/17 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 18 in C major, for violin and guitar, MS112/18 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 2 in D major, for violin and guitar, MS112/2 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 3 in C major, for violin and guitar, MS112/3 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 4 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/4 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 5 in E major, for violin and guitar, MS112/5 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 6 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/6 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 7 in F major, for violin and guitar, MS112/7 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 8 in G major, for violin and guitar, MS112/8 Chamber
Centone di sonate no. 9 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/9 Chamber
Concertino for Horn, Bassoon and Orchestra, "Niccolò Paganini a Mr. Henry" Orchestral
Divertimenti carnevaleschi, 20 pieces for 2 violins and bass, MS4 Chamber
Duetto amoroso in C for Violin and Guitar, MS111 Chamber
Entrata d'Adone nella reggia di Venere in C major, for violin and guitar, MS8 Chamber
Grand Sonata in A for Violin and Guitar, op. 35, MS3 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in A Chamber
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS104 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/1 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/2 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/26 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/30 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/37 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in C major, MS84/15 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in D major, MS84/10 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in D major, MS84/4 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/16 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/25 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/32 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/35 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in E major, MS87 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in F major, MS84/14 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in F major, MS84/6 Chamber
Guitar Sonata in G major, MS84/8 Chamber
Guitar Sonatina in A major, MS85/2 Chamber
Guitar Sonatina in C major, MS85/1 Chamber
Guitar Sonatina in C major, MS85/4 Chamber
Guitar Sonatina in C major, MS85/5 Chamber
Guitar Sonatina in D major, MS85/3 Chamber
In cuor più non mi sento in A major, for 2 violins and bass, MS117 Chamber
Inno patriotico in A major, Allegro and 6 Variations for solo violin, MS81 Chamber
Introduction and Variations on 'Di tanti palpiti' from Rossini's 'Tancredi,' Op.13, MS77 Orchestral
Introduction and Variations on 'Nel cor più non mi sento' from Paisiello's 'La molinara,' Op.38, MS44 Chamber
Introduction and Variations on 'Non più mesta' from Rossini's 'La cenerentola' in E flat major, op. 12; MS22 Orchestral
La Primavera, sonata with variations in A major, op. 30, MS73 Orchestral
Le Couvent du Mont St. Bernard, for violin, orchestra and male chorus, MS67 Vocal
Le streghe, op. 8, MS19, "Witches' Dance" Orchestral
Maestosa sonata sentimentale, op. 27, MS51 Orchestral
Marcia in A major, MS103 Chamber
Marziale, MS105 Chamber
Minuet for mandolin, MS106 Chamber
Minuet in E Chamber
Molto perpetuo, for violin and orchestra, MS66 Orchestral
Moto perpetuo in C major, for violin and guitar, op. 11, MS72 Chamber
Napoléon in E flat major, for violin and orchestra, MS5 Orchestral
Polacca con variazioni in A major, MS18 Orchestral
Romance in A minor, for guitar and strings Chamber
Rondoncino in E major, MS94 Chamber
Serenata in C major, for viola, cello and guitar, MS17 Chamber
Serenata in F major, for 2 violins and guitar Chamber
Serenata in F major, for 2 violins and guitar, MS115 Chamber
Serenata per Rovene, for mandolin and guitar in E minor, MS14 Chamber
Serenata, for mandolin and guitar in G major, MS16 Chamber
Sinfonia della Lodovisia in D major, MS98 Chamber
Sonata Varsavia, MS57 Orchestral
Sonata and Variations on 'Pria ch'io l'impegno' from Weigl's 'L'amor Marinaro' in E major, MS47 Orchestral
Sonata and Variations, MS132 Chamber
Sonata concertata in A for Violin and Guitar, op. 61, MS2 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A major, op. 2, no. 1, MS26/1 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A major, op. 2, no. 4, MS26/4 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A major, op. 3, no. 1 MS27/1 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A minor, op. 2, no. 6, MS26/6 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A minor, op. 3, no. 4, MS27/4 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A, op. 3, no. 5, MS27/5 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in C major, op. 2, no. 2, MS26/2 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in D major, op. 2, no. 5, MS26/5 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in D major, op. 3, no. 3, MS27/3 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in D minor, op. 2, no. 3, MS6/3 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in E minor, op. 3, no. 6, MS27/6 Chamber
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in G major, op. 3, no. 2, MS27/2 Chamber
Sonata in F minor Chamber
Sonata per la Grand Viola and Orchestra in C minor, MS70 Orchestral
Sonatina for Violin and Guitar no. 1, MS124 Chamber
Sonatina for Violin and Guitar no. 2, MS125 Chamber
Tarantella in A major, for violin and orchestra, MS76 Orchestral
Tema variato in A major, Theme and 7 Variations for solo violin, MS82 Chamber
Terzetto concertante in D major, for viola, guitar and cello, MS114 Chamber
Terzetto in A minor, for 2 violins and guitar, MS116 Chamber
Terzetto in D major, for violin, cello and guitar, MS69 Chamber
Trio in D Chamber
Trio in F major, MS101 Chamber
Variations on 'God Save the King', op. 9, MS56 Orchestral
Variations on 'Preghiera', MS23 Chamber
Variations on a string, for cello and piano Chamber
Violin Concerto no. 1 in E flat major, op. 6, MS21 Orchestral
Violin Concerto no. 2 in B minor, op. 7, "La campanella" Orchestral
Violin Concerto no. 3 in E major, MS50 Orchestral
Violin Concerto no. 4 in D minor, MS60 Orchestral
Violin Concerto no. 5 in A minor, op. 37, MS78 Orchestral
Violin Concerto no. 6 in E minor, op. post. Orchestral
Violin Sonata in A major, MS83 Chamber
Violin Sonata in C major, MS6 Chamber
Violin Sonata no. 1 in D minor Chamber
Waltz in C major, MS92 Chamber
Waltz in E major, MS96 Chamber