MUSICIANS AND COMPOSERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 84

MUSICIANS AND COMPOSERS.

MYTHICAL PAGANINI. Pa-ganini is always alluded to as the "greatest" violinist (which he was not), and as the craziest man who ever held a fiddle (wtkich be was not). .Technically considered, be was the most astounding executant in the history of his art (says James Huncke*, in-Everybody/s}. No on© has rivalled him in dexterity, in extrayagamee, in passionate outbursts. His peculiar personality, coupled with his enormous command qp the fingerboard and bow, completed his conquest of tbe public. ' From the first .he set - Italy on fire, and to account lor hie genius he became fche centre- of a network of fairy tale 3. It may be admitted that hie did. not seek to deny the' ridiculous reports spread about him. He was said not only to be an ally of Signer Satan, but a murderer who had served) his term in the galleys, wihere leisure gave him an opportunity to perfect -his matchless mechanical skill. Furthermore, he had gone- to the galleys because of a love murder. Ah, ttoey had "passioniaE& press agents' v in those days. Beeten in early youth by a cruel father, his- liberty, when it did come, only drove feint to excesses. He gambled away his money as soon as he earned it, nor was his ' private life- & matter for publication. - He \ hurt his health, and was forced -to retire ■ from the pubMc for long intervals. This practice gave rie9 to the legendary Paganlni. - We know that he never murdered anyo-n.© except himself, that the only devil wiio haunted him was the devil called gaming ; but he did dissipate, and several love affaire played important roles in his. curious career. He wrote a piece for two strings, the G and E strings, a duo, and naturally it was set down to a love affair at Lucca. Followed 9. fantasy for the Gf string, at the suggestion of Napoleon's' sister. It was called " A Military Sonata, Napoleon," though the eonata form never bothered the composer