Paganini Two

February 7, 2012 at 7:20 AM

In search of something interesting, I googled videos of Paganini's Caprice No.2. By pure luck, I unwittingly loaded two separate pages of the same recording, which began playing a second apart from each other. The resulting canon, of one gloriously talented virtuoso playing a duo with himself exactly one measure back, was spectacular. I had stumbled upon to a feast for the imagination!

My mind began to interpret: an invasion of angry birds--hovering hornets--crawling ants--prancing guinea pigs--a basketball game--a chorus of tree frogs--windex on windows--merry-go-round mishaps--a basket of balls, bouncing down the stairs...

Free-associated images took a full-spectrum, rapid-fire assult on my brain, and I could not stop listening, though my head began to spin. The unexpected alignment of chromatic thirds and decending diminished arpeggios jazzed my toes and made my hair stand on edge.

Two Paganini's is twice as much fun! Although, with a pronounced groan, my dog always lets me know when I've had enough for one day.

Go ahead, I dare you to try it. One measure apart. But if you miss it by a bit, you'll just get different pictures.

From Emily Hogstad
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 4:04 PM

I have done this! Except with Paganini 1. Closest I'm ever going to get to playing them.

From Laurie Niles
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 4:23 PM

Pag two squared, how complex does it get? :) What's the link?

From Emily Grossman
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 7:43 PM

You can try anyone you like. The original was a guy named Andrey Rozendent, but each recording makes its own kaleidoscope. Perlman's good. You could even make your own, if you're the bomb and can whip out a good solid Paganini caprice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8b6Vip_Kc8

From Emily Grossman
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 8:38 PM

Emily, you would be the one that would think of something like that. Great minds think alike! (Or crazy minds...?)

From Tom Holzman
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 9:31 PM

What fun! Thanks for sharing that. It would never have occurred to me. I lack your fertile imagination, Emily(s).

From Ellie Withnall
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 12:40 AM

Hi Emily, amazing, I actually did this accidentally last night with a fiddle song I am learning. Sounded awesome, even took me a minute to work out it was a mistake and not just a really intense production!

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Paganini Two

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