April 8 - Giuseppe Tartini (The Musical Birthday Series)

Giuseppe Tartini (8 April 1692 – 26 February 1770) was a violin virtuoso, composer, teacher, and theorist.  The following bits of nonsense are loosely based on true facts of his life and work.

Classic Tartini

Tartini is not on a menu.

It isn't a drink ordered when you

Want bitters and gin. —-

He played violin

As heard in a classical venue.

Devil May Care… Or Not

Tartini, who played violin,

Performed as if taught by a djinn;

His devilish trill

Remains with us still,

Which sounds like (but isn’t) a sin.

A Tale of Two Strads

Though the course of his life was precarious,

He played on a new Stradivarius.

Though the fact he had two

Seems greedy to you,

Tartini considered it hilarious