The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-06-22
LIFE OF PAaANINI.

| IL
We remember the Paganin- fever, as manv,
as some twenty years hence. will remember the
Lind-feyer and similar epidemics. We re-
member, in provincial town, seeing on
temporary stage q tall, lank, wizard looking
being, with long dark hair falling over his
shoulders, and an eye and face expressing to-
gether the geneus and the sensualst, elicitng
Thousands of applause from numerous audi
ence for his marvellous performances on the
violin, which, in his thin, transparent, skeleton
like left hand, become at will a one-stringed or
q twenty-stringed instrument, rising form its
natural tones to the softness and sweetness of
the fageolet, or initiating the tinklings Of the
harp. We remember hearing of amateurs on
the violin, who, after listening to his wild, beau
tiful passionate, sometimes unearihy feates
on the single dstended cat-gut, went home
some to smash, some to impignorate their Gre
mOnas, in ntter despair of ever approaching
within thousand leagues of his excellence
This strange mixture Of dross and gold was
born at Genoa, the 18th February. 1874. His
father, ANTONIO, and his mother, TERESA. were
both diletanti i'm music. and were not long in
discerning in their youthful son strong taste
for the art they cultivated. To encourage this
taste his mother had, or pretended to have, an
angelic vision. and in the morning thus spake
to him: "My son, thor shalt become great
musician: for an angel, radiant with beauty
Appeared TO me this night, and has listened to
the prayer made him. / praved him that
thou mavest hecome the first of violinsts, and
tho angle has promised me il shall be so.'-l
From this time the study of the violin became
his soul object. and it was not many years be-
FIRE he surprised and delighted the most eml-
nent masters of that instrument with his coul-
positions and performances. II was at the end
of one of his concerts in Paris when some one
hat ha of Az
that the great composer replied, letting us into
the secret of
A MUSICIANS TEARS.
have wept ONLY three times in my life: the
first time. when nv first opera fell to the
ground out in boat with some friends. truf-
fed turkev we were to have eaten. fell into the
water: and the third, when heard PAGANINI
for the first time.
1t was at Lucca where he first astonished
the world by performing on one string. Here
is his own accounts
HOW PAGANINI BEGAN TO PLAY ON ONE STRING
At Lucca directed the orchestra every time
the reignng family attended the opera. Of
ten, also. was invited to the court circle, and
fortunately gave a grand concert. The Prin-
cess ELIZA ALWAYS retired before the close, for
the harmonious sounds Of my instrument agi-
tated her nerves too keenly. very amahle
lady, whom for long time had adored in petto
showed herself on the contrary, very assiduous
at these reunions. and came to discover that
she had secret inclination for me. Gradually
our mutual liking grew.
One day promised to surprise her at the
first concert, with n music galantlv, which
should have allusion to our mutual love and
friendship. At the same time announced to
the court novelty under the title Of scenn
amorosd. T he general curiostv was keenly
excited but what was the astonshment of the
company on eeing me enter with violin hav
ing two strings onlv-the bass and the treble.
The former expressed the feelings of yonng
man who addressed his mistress in the most
impassoned language. A tender and senti-
mental dialogue was thus established, followed
soon after by transport of jealousy.
The two lovers were finally reconced, more
enamored of each other than ever and cxrected
passo due, which terminated in brilliant
finale This scenG was successful. not to
speak Of the elonces which the lady of my
thoughts let fall upon me. The Princess
Eliza. after loading me with compliments. said
with much graciousness,-"YO have done the
impossible on two strings, will not one suffice
for yonr talentr l promised to make the ex-
pertinent. The idea haunted my i"aginat'oi
and some weeks after | had composeda sonata
for the fourth string entitled .Ndpoien. which
The success far exceeded nv expectations, and
hence my prediction for the sol string from
that dav.
"This.' saws one of his biographers, sis
more reasonable liking for the fourth sol str
ING Of the violin. than that he was confined in
prison on an accusation of murder, where he
was only allowed the use of a violin with one
string He further supposcs that the rnmor
NAV have arisen from the following circnms-
| n II. Lag NUnrr rTI
who had changed his name. DURHoD, into DU-
! RANowsKI. lived in Milan at the same time as
PAGANINI Led away by bandits. the unfor-
tunate artist broke with them. during the night,
into a remote farmhouse. He was condemn
cd 10 long imprisNn and his violin was
brought 10 him in his cell as special favor
1 What became of this artist was never properly
known. All such may have been tho case, but
at the same time it is known, and admitted by
| his biocraphers, that, when emancipated from
/ paternal control. he led n most discrcditable
| ife gamblcd, formed improper Hasons and was
the associate Of not few distinguished black
legs From 1908 to 1914, he was almost en-
tirely lost sight Of. and respecting this period
| Of his life he would never afford any satisfac-
tory explanation. On the other hand it is pos
sibie that envy may have greatly exaggerated
his faults and calumny gathers bulk as 1t rolls
/ along. At Vienna he was accused OF having
poisoned his wife: md when il had been prov
cd that he had never been married, that It was
that he had poisoned his mistress. These ru-
moIs impelled him to make declaration in
one of the musical journals. which thus finish
es 81 protest as much in the interest of my
reputation and honor as Of truth, that never
at any time or place. or under any government
whatsoever, have been constrained by any
motive, to lead other life than what bcseemcd
free man. an honorable citizen, and strict OBJ
server of the laws" We have no wish to un-
cover the errors of genius. nor to glaze over
those which genius. sometimes, casts too OBJ
trusivcv before the public eve.
To follow PHeANINI throughout his musical
career. or note circumsianiially his pilgrimages
and vagaries, is not our intention. Out of his
own country. he first appeared in Vienna, in
1928, at the invitation of Prince METTERNrcH.