Saturday, December 25, 2010

"One night, in the year 1713 I dreamed I had made a pact with the devil for my soul. Everything went as I wished: my new servant anticipated my every desire. Among other things, I gave him my violin to see if he could play. How great was my astonishment on hearing a sonata so wonderful and so beautiful, played with such great art and intelligence, as I had never even conceived in my boldest flights of fantasy. I felt enraptured, transported, enchanted: my breath failed me, and - I awoke. I immediately grasped my violin in order to retain, in part at least, the impression of my dream. In vain! The music which I at this time composed is indeed the best that I ever wrote, and I still call it the "Devil's Trill", but the difference between it and that which so moved me is so great that I would have destroyed my instrument and have said farewell to music forever if it had been possible for me to live without the enjoyment it affords me." - Giuseppe Tartini

When's this devil entering my dreams?
I especially liked the part where he said "I felt enraptured, transported, enchanted: my breath failed me, and - I awoke"... don't you just HATE when that happens?

I've always liked Tartini's Sonata in G Minor.
But whenever I think about the real story behind the music, I yearn to meet this devil and have him play it for me.
This might sound dangerous to say but perhaps, out of curiosity, I would trade my soul to listen :S