The Best of Paganini

The Best of Niccolò Paganini (27 October 1782 – 27 May 1840)

Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His Caprice No. 24 in A minor, Op. 1, is among the best known of his compositions, and has served as an inspiration for many prominent composers.

He was born in Genoa, then capital of the Republic of Genoa, the third of the six children of Antonio and Teresa (née Bocciardo) Paganini. Paganini's father was an unsuccessful trader, but he managed to supplement his income through playing music on the mandolin. At the age of five, Paganini started learning the mandolin from his father, and moved to the violin by the age of seven. His musical talents were quickly recognized, earning him numerous scholarships for violin lessons. The young Paganini studied under various local violinists, including Giovanni Servetto and Giacomo Costa, but his progress quickly outpaced their abilities. Paganini and his father then traveled to Parma to seek further guidance from Alessandro Rolla. But upon listening to Paganini's playing, Rolla immediately referred him to his own teacher, Ferdinando Paer and, later, Paer's own teacher, Gasparo Ghiretti. Though Paganini did not stay long with Paer or Ghiretti, the two had considerable influence on his composition style.

0:00 Violin Concerto No.2 in B minor ('La campanella'), Op. 7, MS 48- Rondo

8:27 Sonata for violin & guitar in D major (Centone di sonate, Letter A-2), MS 112-2- Adagio

12:23 Sonata for violin & guitar in D major (Centone di sonate, Letter A-2), MS 112-2- Rondoncino

16:35 Grand Sonata, for guitar & violin in A major, Op. 35, MS 3- Romanza

20:45 Grand Sonata, for guitar & violin in A major, Op. 35, MS 3- Andantino variato

29:52 Caprice for violin solo in E major (Andante), Op. 1-1- No. 1 in E major

31:46 Caprice for violin solo in A minor (Agitato), Op. 1-5- No. 5 in A minor

34:18 Caprice for violin solo in E major 'The Hunt' Op. 1-9- No. 9 in E major

37:12 Violin Concerto No.2 in B minor ('La campanella'), Op. 7, MS 48- Adagio

44:28 Sonata concertata, for guitar & violin in A major, Op. 61, MS 2- Adagio assai espressivo

48:01 Sonata concertata, for guitar & violin in A major, Op. 61, MS 2- Rondeau- Allegretto con brio scherzando

50:07 Caprice for violin solo in B flat major 'The Devil's Chuckle,' Op. 1-13- No. 13 in B flat major

52:32 Caprice for violin solo in D major (Allegretto), Op. 1-20- No. 20 in D major

56:05 Caprice for violin solo in A minor (Theme & Variations), Op. 1-24- No. 24 in A minor

1:01:02 Cantabile, for violin & piano (or guitar) in D major, (MS 109)

1:05:30 Violin Concerto No.1 in E flat major (usually transposed to D major), Op. 6, MS 21- Rondo- Allegro spirituoso

QUINTO CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL PARA EL MANEJO INTEGRAL DE FINCAS AGROPECU...

Edward the Confessor, King. 13 October 1066

Edward was born in 1003. He was the last Saxon king to rule (for more than a few months) in England. He is called "Edward the Confessor" to distinguish him from another King of England, Edward the Martyr (c962-979), who was assassinated (presumably by someone who wished to place Edward's younger half-brother on the throne), and who came to be regarded, on doubtful grounds, as a martyr for the faith. In Christian biographies, the term "confessor" is often used to denote someone who has born witness to the faith by his life, but who did not die as a martyr. Edward was the son of King Ethelred the Unready. This does not mean that he was unprepared, but rather that he was stubborn and wilful, and would not accept "rede," meaning advice or counsel.

Aethelred was followed by several Danish kings of England, during whose rule young Edward and his mother took refuge in Normandy. But the last Danish king named Edward as his successor, and he was crowned in 1042. Opinions on his success as a king vary. Some historians consider him weak and indecisive, and say that his reign paved the way for the Norman Conquest. Others say that his prudent management gave England more than twenty years of peace and prosperity, with freedom from foreign domination, at a time when powerful neighbors might well have dominated a less adroit ruler. He was diligent in public and private worship, generous to the poor, and accessible to subjects who sought redress of grievances.

While in exile, he had vowed to make a pilgrimage to Rome if his family fortunes mended. However, his council told him that it was not expedient for him to be so long out of the country. Accordingly, he spent his pilgrimage money instead on the relief of the poor and the building of Westminster Abbey, which stands today (rebuilt in the thirteenth century) as one of the great churches of England, burial place of her kings and others deemed worthy of special honor.

He died on 5 January 1066, leaving no offspring; and after his death, the throne was claimed by his wife's brother, Harold the Saxon, and by William, Duke of Normandy. William defeated and slew Harold at the Battle of Hastings (14 October 1066), and thereafter the kings and upper classes of England were Norman-French rather than Anglo-Saxon. Edward is remembered, not on the day of his death, but on the anniversary of the moving ("translation") of his corpse to a new tomb, a date which is also the anniversary of the eve of the Battle of Hastings, the end of Saxon England.