Niccolo Paganini

Italy, 1793–1840

Italian violinist and composer (1782-1840), and the first musician to be a star on the strength of technique alone. The 24 Caprices collected what he could do that others could not, and the showman's image around him — the rumour of a pact with the devil — became a template performers still work from.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Niccolo Paganini and 1 artist Niccolo Paganini influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Niccolo Paganini?

• Alessandro Rolla — Paganini was sent to Rolla at thirteen and Rolla sent him on again, saying there was nothing left to teach him — but the techniques Paganini is remembered for were Rolla's first.
• Pietro Locatelli — L'arte del violino is the book that showed a violinist could write past the limit of what was playable. Paganini's Caprices answer it directly.

Which artists did Niccolo Paganini influence?

• Yngwie Malmsteen — The blueprint, taken at ten — not only the writing but the showman's image around it. Malmsteen's own summary is that he threw guitar technique out and applied violin technique instead.