Anecdotes of Great Musicians/Anecdote 63
63.—A FIDDLER'S TRICK.
Archangelo Corelli was once taken in by a little ruse of a certain German fiddler, named Strunck, who was traveling in Italy. The German called on the great Italian violinist, and after some conversation asked him to play. Corelli did so, and exerted himself to please his visitor. Then, after he had concluded, he asked his visitor if he did not play. Strunck said he did play some. So Corelli, to return the compliment, asked him to play in turn, and when he had finished, complimented him on his use of the bow, although the German had purposely played very carelessly. Corelli told him that he could, with practice become an excellent player.
Strunck smiled, and quietly put all of the strings of the violin out of tune, and then played with amazing brilliancy, correcting the false pitch of the strings by his skillful use of the fingers. Corelli, in amazement, cried out, "Sir, they call me Archangelo, but, by heaven, you must be an Archdiavolo!"