The Devil's Violin

The violin toting fellow above is one Niccolo Paganini, born this day 1782 in Genoa, Italy. At the age of five he began learning the mandolin, and moved on to the instrument that made him famous, the violin, at the age of seven. He quickly became recognized for what he was, a protege, and moved from teacher to teacher as soon as his skills out paced his teacher's abilities. By the time he was 18, he had been appointed the first violin of the Republic of Lucca, where his reputation as a musician was only bested by his notoriety as a gambler and womanizer. He had even become an alcoholic at the age of 16. He was, by all accounts, one talented motherfucker, and the rumor became that he had made a pact with the Devil for his talent, and people claimed to see the Devil helping him play at concerts. The 24 caprices for violin that he played are some outstanding music. Of course there is no recording of HIS playing them, but hearing them, and realizing that it is a violin is a shock to the system. I can only imagine what he made them sound like. He was apparently capable of playing three octaves across four strings in a hand span, a feat that is still considered impossible by today's standards. I do not know anything about the violin, but if he was able to do something in the 1800's that is considered impossible today, then the man get my vote as a hero. Eventually all the booze and broad caught up to him, he was diagnosed with syphilis as early as 1822, and the "cure" of opium, and mercury caused him health problems for the rest of his life. He set up a casino in Paris in 1836, but it failed miserably, left him financially ruined. But, for making a violin scream like a school girl, with or without the devil's help, Niccolo Paganini (October 27th, 1782-May 27th, 1840, at the age of 57), you are my hero of the day.