baroqueviolin Sobrang Spammer. Di na nagprapraktis
Posts : 1970 Join date : 27/03/2010 Location : San Pedro, Laguna
Subject: October 2010 Guarnerius del Gesù "Il Cannone" Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:32 am
"Il Cannone"
Close Up of the Scroll
quarter view of Il Cannone
The "Guarneri del Gesù" The violin that belonged to Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), was made in 1743 in Cremona by the violinmaker Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri (1698-1744) known as 'del Gesù'.
Most likely, Paganini received it as a gift while he was in Livorno (Leghorn) in 1802. He preferred it to all the other violins he owned and affectionately called it "my cannon violin" because of the richness of its sound. Miraculously, all the principal parts of the Cannone have survived absolutely intact to the present day, a fact that confirms its uniqueness. Its value is enhanced by the fame of its renowned owner. The varnish is still the original, and in the area to the left to the tailpiece has been worn off because, like all of his contemporaries, Paganini played the violin without using a chin rest and therefore rested his chin directly on the sounding board. Thus, Paganini found an exceptional partner in the Cannone, reaching insuperable heights of virtuosity. The exceptional extension of the fingers of his left hand enabled the great violinist to perform new violin techniques that made good use of the full potential of the instrument. According to precise instructions left by Paganini in his will of 1837, the Cannone was left to the City of Genoa, his native city, "so that it be preserved forever". Since 1851, the violin, together with other Paganini memorabilia, has been kept at Palazzo Tursi, the Genoa City Hall. The violin's preservation is supervised by a panel of experts including Mario Trabucco, the violinist who periodically plays the instrument, and Bruce Carlson, the violinmaker in charge of its conservation. Many famous violinists have performed with the Cannone in Italy and abroad. Moreover, it is a privilege reserved for the winner of the International Violin Competition 'Premio Paganini' held in Genoa; the winner plays the precious instrument on October 12th on the occasion of the Columbus Celebrations.
