Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) wrote two installments (Op. 2 and Op. 3) of six sonatas each for violin and guitar between 1805 and 1809 while he lived in Florence with a guitar-playing noblewoman. Paganini kept both his love for the guitar and the noblewoman secret, and these twelve sonatas were written for more intimate settings rather than the larger public performances we often associate with Paganini's virtuosity. From Op. 3, the Sonata in E minor, No. 6 is the standout work, frequently performed as a showpiece or for encores. Both Op. 2 and Op. 3 are available from the publisher.