Pietro Antonio Locatelli (1695-1764), a Baroque composer and inspiration for Paganini, even had a violin built with a longer fingerboard to perform his own music, showcasing new techniques.
Composition History
Domenico Gabrielli (1651-1690) was likely the first composer to write solo pieces for the cello, inspiring Niccolò Paganini to perform and compose for the instrument himself.
Instruments
Sergey Malov's instruments include a violin by Ferdinando Gagliano, a Baroque violin by Giofredo Cappa, a viola by Pietro Gaggini (1958), and a violoncello da spalla built specifically for him by Dmitry Badiarov.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Niccolò Paganini, the central figure of this album, deeply engaged with the works of his predecessors and contemporaries, creating a musical cosmos with himself at its center.
Performer Biography
Sergey Malov, the performer on this album, plays on four different string instruments: a modern violin, a Baroque violin, a viola, and a violoncello da spalla.
Compositional Technique
Paganini's Caprice No. 9 in E major imitates hunting horns, a daring and unorthodox undertaking to reproduce wind instrument sounds on a violin.
Historical Context
In eras prior to the Romantic period, musicians were expected to master several instruments, unlike the contemporary specialization where virtuosos often focus on a single instrument.
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