A Fiddler’s Trick

Arcangelo Corelli once received a visit from a traveling German violinist named Strunck. After some polite conversation, the guest asked Corelli to play. Corelli obliged and did his best to impress.

Then Corelli returned the courtesy and invited Strunck to play. The German performed—deliberately—like he hardly cared, and Corelli, ever gracious, complimented his bowing and told him that with practice he could become an excellent player.

Strunck only smiled. He quietly threw all four strings badly out of tune… and then launched into a display of dazzling virtuosity, correcting the wrong pitch entirely with his fingers.

Corelli stared, astonished. “They call me Archangelo,” he cried, “but, by heaven, you must be an Archdiavolo!”