Essay on Music: Niccolò Paganini as the Soloist

Tiziano Vecellio, better known as Titian, was the greatest Venetian artist of the sixteenth century, ultimately achieving global fame. He is famous above all for his incredible use of color and an amazing portraitist; his painterly method was highly influential well into the seventeenth century. Titian also was an important artist of the Italian Renaissance who painted works for Pope Paul III, King Philip II of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Titian developed as an artist in Venice as an apprentice in his teens. He was mentored by Sebastiano Zuccato, Giovanni Bellini, and Giorgione before adventuring out on his own. They were influential for his tonal style to painting and for his landscape smartness, which was impressive and reminiscent.

It is during one of the residences he had in Milan when “he played at Verona, Padua—where the "prison" stories seem to have originated” [Paganini, rumored to have spent eighty years in a dungeon for a murder] (Stratton). He composed fifteen Quartets for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Guitar during this period (Lloja). Ironically, it wasn’t until 1825 that Paganini felt he had developed his skills to put them on display throughout Europe (Lloja). Paganini’s reputation would, at times, proceed him on these travels. When he visited Naples for the first time in 1819, he found the local musicians had composed a tricky and incredibly difficult piece for him to perform sight unseen (Stratton). Nicolo played it flawlessly the first time through, even after it became apparent that the other musicals had practiced the piece earlier (Stratton). His reputation continued to growing outside of Italy, Paganini decided to leave for fame and wealth

Who was Rossini? Gioachino Rossini was an Italian composer born in 1792. Beethoven was a German composer and pianist born in 1770. Beethoven was

I found him to be a serious and self-motivated student who maintained a consistent practice routine in spite of a challenging class schedule. He was invariably well prepared for his lessons. A very accomplished violinist, Stephen’s playing displayed great technical skill and a warm, expressive sound. He was an ideal violin student. Often during lessons, he asked penetrating questions, drawing insightful (and sometimes surprising) connections between the technical or musical ideas that I had presented. When challenged with improving a technical skill (such as up-bow staccato), he commited himself to the work with great diligence, often accomplishing within a week or two what many students would need a month to achieve. Perhaps what is most useful for you to know about my work with Stephen is that, due to his musical skills, his intense commitment and sharp mind, his lesson was the height of my violin-teaching week. He was, and is, the most interesting and enjoyable student that I have taught in my twenty-eight years of collegiate

Antonio Vivaldi was born on March 4th, 1678. He was born in Venice Italy, where his father, Giovanni Battista Vivaldi, was a professional violinist who taught Antonio to play too. Through his father, Vivaldi met and learned from some of the greatest musicians and composers in Venice at that time. Vivaldi tried very hard to get religious training and musical instruction. At the age of 15, he started studying to become a priest. He was officially confirmed as a priest in 1703. Due to his red hair, Vivaldi was ultimately known as "the Red Priest." Vivaldi's career in the clergy was very short-lived. His health problems had prevented him from delivering mass at church and it drove him to leave behind the priesthood he had shortly after his ordination. When Antonio reached the age of 25, he became named as the master of violin at the Devout Hospital of Mercy that was in Venice. He had composed most of his major pieces while he was named this, in over three decades. This hospital was an institution where orphans were taught. The boys were in trades

Antonio Vivaldi, a major composer during the Baroque period, made significant changes during his time, from numerous works to a teacher at the Pieta to a priest. Vivaldi excelled writing in many genres; however, he is known mainly for his concertos (Hanning & Burkholder 264). In the case of the Baroque era, Antonio Vivaldi’s contributions profoundly impacted music for the violin, ushering in a period of popularity for the instrument.

Wherever he went, he brought with him an air of celebration. His playing was full of energy, charm, and emotion and he loved to astonish the audience with showy effects, moving his bow with lighting swiftness and playing all four strings at the same time. He was a great virtuoso and was said to be the equal of the legendary Italian violinist, Paganini. In addition to being a dazzling performer, he was also probably the best-looking man on any stage at that time. This, combined with a colorful personality and a strong sense of drama, made him a formidable performer and a very attractive and exciting

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was an Italian Baroque composer, artist, teacher, and a very influential person in the baroque. Vivaldi was born in Venice, Italy on March 4th, 1678. He was immediately baptized after his birthday which leads people to believe he was an unhealthy infant or a recipient to other natural causes. Throughout his life, he has composed many pieces such as his numerous amounts of concertos for a variety of different instruments, his operas, and one of his most famous pieces, The Four Season. Even though Vivaldi was a very successful composer and virtuoso he died on the 28th of July in 1741, in poverty with little to no money.

Beethoven, is a well known name that one definitely knows for his famous works. Born on December 16, 1770 , Germany, he was the oldest son of Johann and Maria Magdalena van Beethoven. His father was a singer however, was more well known for his alcohol addiction.. Between the birth of his second brother, Beethoven’s father taught him how to play music in an abusive way, hitting Beethoven when he didn’t play the music piece properly. Thus, Beethoven became a brilliant composer and piano player at a young age. For example, Beethoven at the age of 19 composed a musical piece for Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, who had died and it was a success. Other examples of his most famous works are, Fur Elise, Moonlight Sonata and the 5th symphony. In the

This is where the “da Palestrina” in his name as a musical composer would come from. Pierluigi started his learning in Rome where he ended up starting and finishing his musical education. He went from a simple choir boy to an outstanding composer. His patron

Giovanni Gabrieli was an Italian composer born in 1554 and wrote many works in the ‘in between’ stage of Renaissance and Baroque. He was a composer and

Ludwig van Beethoven was, and remains today, an influential figure in the history of classical music. Perhaps no other composer in history wrote music of such inspiring power and expressiveness. His influence on the last 150 years of music is unequalled.

Andrea Amati was born in Circa in 1505, and resided in Cremona, Italy for several years. Some scholars dispute the claim of him being the first violin creator because he was trained by lute makers. A. Amati’s first violins composed of only three strings on them, resembling the characteristics of the rebec. This possibly could be another explanation as to why scholars discredit his claim of the first violin maker. Regardless of that there is proof that he did create a four string violin and it was made in 1555, and the eldest serving one is dated 1560. There is even proof of violins being sold to Charles IX of France in the form of documents (Bartruff, William).

Giovanni Bellini, (born c. 1430, Venice [Italy]—died 1516, Venice), Italian painter who, in his work, reflects the increasing interest of the Venetian artistic milieu in the stylistic innovations and concerns of the Renaissance (metmuseum). Bellini was one of the most influential Venetian artists. He lived and worked in Venice all his life; his career spanned 65 years. Little is known about Bellini’s family. Bellini’s father, Jacopo, a painter was a pupil of the Gentile da Fabriano, in any case, Jacopo introduced the principles of the Florentine Renaissance to Venice before either of his sons (Britannica). Jacopo strove to ensure that his sons would become distinguished painters as well and, it is said, often pitted them each other.

Rossini is probably the most popular composer of this era. His works are many and are extremely popular. Rossini was born in Pesaro in 1792 and on December15th, 1815 when he was only twenty-three years old, he signed a contract to write an opera for a theater in Rome (Weaver, 11). His childhood friend, Gertrude Righetti Giorgi, premiered as Rosina in Rossin’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, on opening night for the Nobile Teatro di Torre Argentina (Weaver, 19). Il barbiere di Siviglia went on to become one of the more famous operas of Rossini’s. This opera went through many struggles, however, because of the similar story