Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-12-23
RECOLLECTIONS OF PAGANINI.

ne author OI mublCh htCOllcCliOub
of the Last Half Century" in Tinsley's
Magazine, tells these stories of Paganini
That the love of money was passion
with Paganini, to which he gave the full
est vent, there can be no doubt He
loved gold, and the more he got of it, the
more he coveted. But that it made him
as brutal and contemplate as his numer-
GUS detractors asserted, |, for one, most
positively deny since to myself person
ally he would have been even generous,
had he been permitted to be So Others
may have found him a different man
from what he appeared to myself; but,
so far as am concerned, j must deny
in toto, except on the score of pelf, that
he bore the slightest semblance TO the
character with which he was universally
charged. l.GH&
1t was not, however, until March 8,
1881, that he appeared in Paris, where
he only remained until May, when he
betook himself to London, and gave
his first concert on Friday, June Sd,
in his Majesty's Theater, an orchestra
having been erected upon the stage for
the occasion. At that concert he play
ed concerto in T. fat Of his own
composition, consisting of three move
ments--an allegro maestoso, an adagio
appassonato, and a rondo brilliante,
To this he added sonata militaire
upon Mozart's Non piu andrai,"
which he played upon the fourth
string. Although great excitement had
been caused in the musical world by
Paganinis arrival. the results Of his
debut were not altogether such as had
been expected; the cause Of this
chiefly being that the prices of admission
were increased beyond the amount
usually fixed for concerts at which the
most celebrated vocalists and instru-
mentalists were engaged, The stalls
and orchestra were fairly full, and also
the pit, although by no means crowded.
Few boxes were either let or occupied,
so that the receipts were given out to
be no more than f70O
I Paganini's reception, however, was
enthusiastic, his performances being
greeted with the loudest acelamations,
quite as much by the professionals as
by any Of the audience. Ind deed several
OF the former seemed to be entirely
carried away by the astonishment this
remarkable mans performance oeca-
stoned. At rehearsal be had been wary,
and did not afford the slightest intima-
ton Of his powers, being content with
merely giving directions, and skimming
through his own obiisGtO passages.
When, therefore, the progress Of the first
-. a,,,a.k oc he oonoorfn rrooaadad
every face lighted up with enthusiasm,
and at its conclusion not single mem
Der of the band refrained from applaud
ing him to the echo. rTsrl
Mori ayowed that, il he could not sell,
he would at least burn, his fiddle; Lind
ley stammered out that u it was the
DEVIL" while Dragonetti growled, in
tones almost as deep as he himself drew
from his own double bass. "She's mighty
espritf
AT his second concert, which was given
at the same place on Friday, June 10,
Paganini introduced another concerto Of
his own composition, which has since
been known by the title of La Cloch-
ette," from the rondo, a Ia SicikenRe,
being accompanied throughout by the
repeated sound OF silver-toned small
bell, the effect Of which was increased
by its having been correctly played by
Lablanche. The receipts Of this concert
were better than at the first, no less than
el20O having been netted. The third
concert was given on Monday, June l3,
when Paganini introduced another new
concerto, the receipts being f90O.
The first surprise which the perform
ance Of Paganini ELECTED was his sim
ultaneous production Of bowed and piz-
zicato notes. While the bow was en-
ployed in bringing out the sir on the
first string, he added an accsmpani-
ment, in harmony of two and sometimes
of three notes, on the others, with such
fingers, and also the thumb, as were not
engaged in bringing out the legato pas
sage. Then his harmonies were the
next source Of astonishment. Besides
the ordinary method Of producing them,
ne obtained new series in an instant
by one single, sudden and dexterous
turn cf 3 peg, thus giving a different
tension TO his string. And this was not
all: for by making an artificial nut "
on any part Of string, which he did
with the utmost ease, be obtained, so to
speak, new generator which enabled
him to command harmonies in every
scale, aud almost unlimited in number
These he played in double notes. in thirds,
and also in sixths and octaves He also
executed double shakes in hsrmonies.
His performance on the fourth string
though BY no means 80 astonishing as it
was generally supposed to be, was new
erthess a remarkable effort, as was also
his staecato playing, which was more
distinct and crisp than was ever heard
from any other player, either before or
since. He struck his bow on the string,
and it seemed TO run BY a tremuious
motion over as many notes as be chose
TO include in the staccsto passage. The
bow seemed indeed 70 act with the elias
ticiiy Of spring 6xed at one end, and
made to vibrate. All this mechanism
Twas peculiar 10 himself but in playing
double notes Of every kind, rapid arpeg-
gios, chords OF whatever passages other
performers had triumphed over, be was
equally ready and perfect.