Nicolò Paganini: With an Analysis of His Compositions and a Sketch of the History of the Violin (1860; 2013))

This Dover edition, first published in 2013, is an unabridged republication of the work originally published by Schott & Company, London, in 1860. Stewart Pollens has prepared a new Introduction specially for this Dover edition.

(author: Fétis, François-Joseph, 1784–1871)

Written by an important musicologist, this rare 1860 monograph analyzes Nicolò Paganini's compositions and provides a fascinating history of the violin. Author François-Joseph Fétis was Paganini's close friend and well acquainted with many other Romantic composers and artists. Students of the history of music, music lovers, violinists, and musicologists will find this volume a rare source of firsthand observations on the legendary violin virtuoso and his circle.

The treatise begins with a survey of the violin's history that profiles famous makers, including the Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri families. The subsequent essay, "Art and Artists," provides a concise review of performances, focusing on the Italian and French schools. The biography of Paganini follows, providing rare perspectives on the artist's playing, personal habits, and social behavior — a colorful portrait of a legendary musician as well as a valuable historical resource.