2. Periods of MusicPeriods of Music  Common Practice Period (1600-1900)  Baroque, Classical, Romantic  Paganini’s Place in Music

3. Early LifeEarly Life  Born in Genoa, Italy in 1782  Studied with various Violinists in his youth  French invasion of Italy in 1796 forced Paganini to move

4. As a Young VirtuosoAs a Young Virtuoso  His early performances were not well received  Gained a reputation as a gambler and a womanizer  His technical ability and compositional talent however was met with critical acclaim

5. As a ComposerAs a Composer  Paganini only played his own compositions  His 24 Caprices  Incorporation of new ideas/techniques for the violin

6. His time in FranceHis time in France  Most of his time in France was spent composing and appreciating French music and culture  Tried to open up Casino, which ended in total failure  Died in 1840 from tuberculosis

7. His Contributions to the ViolinHis Contributions to the Violin  His technical ability on the instrument to this day has been unparalleled  Many times Paganini has been referred to as a phenomenon of the violin and a new way to approach the instrument  Originally shunned for his technical ability, later praised for it

8. His ViolinsHis Violins  Paganini’s violins were handcrafted to his exact specifications  His most famous violins were by Antonio Stradivari  His main instrument is still on loan today, and four of his instruments are played by the Paganini Quartet

9. His MusicianshipHis Musicianship  Spent years perfecting is craft  His ability in composition and in his playing has yet to be matched  To even consider attempting one of his pieces, a musician should already be considered a virtuoso

10. The MythsThe Myths  He was said to be a vampire  He was scolded and condemned by the Roman Catholic Church  He sold his soul to the devil

11. His LegacyHis Legacy  His works inspire musicians of all genres  Truly represents what a virtuoso is  Representative of what happens when someone is completely focused on their craft

12. Works CitedWorks Cited  Campbell, Margaret. The Great Violinists. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1981. Print.  Saussine, Renée De. Paganini. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1970. Print.  Wheeler, Opal, and Henry S. Gillette. Paganini: Master of Strings. New York: Dutton, 1950. Print.  www.thirteen.org/publishers/violin/paganini.html  www.viola-in-music.com/nicolo-paganini.html