The Diary of an invalid, being the journal of a tour... in Portugal, Italy, Switzerland and France, 1817-1819

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[29 April 1818] In saying " that the Italians have no taste for instrumental music in general," I do not mean to assert that they have not individual performers of consummate talent, among whom it would be injustice not to mention the celebrated Paganini*. He is a man of eccentric character, and irregular habits. Though generally resident at Turin, he has no fixed engagement; but, as occasion may require, makes a trading voyage through the principal cities of Italy, and can always procure a theatre, upon the condition of equal participation in the receipts. Many stories are told of the means by which he has acquired his astonishing style;—such as his having been imprisoned ten years with no other resource— and the like. But, however this may be, his powers over the violin are most extraordinary.

* I subjoin the spirited description of a friend, whose musical science and acknowledged taste enable him to speak with much more authority than myself. " Paganini's performance bears the stamp of the eccentricity of his character. As to mechanism, it is quite perfect; his tone and the thrilling intonation of his double stops are electric; his bow moves as if it were part of himself, and endued with life and feeling; his staccato is more strongly marked than I ever knew, and in the smoother passages there is a glassiness, if one may so say, which gives you the notion of the perfection of finish, and the highest refinement of practice. Though, in general, there is an ambition to display his own talents, by an excess of ornament, yet he can, if he will, play with simplicity and pathos, and then his power over the passions is equal to that of any orator or actor."

excerpt from 'The Diary of an invalid, being the journal of a tour... in Portugal, Italy, Switzerland and France, 1817-1819' pp. 229 (290 words)

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