THE V I O LIN AND ITS MUSIC, GEORGE HART, "HE VIOLIN: ITS ...

THE VIOLIN AND ITS .MUSIC.
to my astonishment, that I was completely superfluous.
I silently laid my Violin aside and looked
at the father, who could not suppress his tears.
Wolfgang played the whole of the six Trios through
with precision and neatness, and our applause at the
end so emboldened him that he fancied he could
play the first Violin. For amusement we encouraged
him to try, and laughed heartily at his manner of
getting over the difficulties of the part, with
incorrect and ludicrous fingering indeed, but still, in
such a manner that he never stuck fast."
It is interesting to note that little Mozart had a
predilection for a particular Violin, even at this early
period of his life. To manifest discrimination in
relation to tone so early, is almost as extraordinary as
the executive and creative talent he displayed. His
favourite Violin was that belonging to his kind
friend Schachtner, which, from its smooth and soft
quality of tone, the child named "The Butter
Fiddle." This Butter Fiddle served to exemplify
the wondrous correctness of ear with which the boy
was endowed. Mozart was one day working away
on his own little Fiddle, when Schachtner presented
himself. "What have you done with your Butter
Fiddle," asked Mozart, and went on playing ;
suddenly he stopped and added, " If you have not
altered the tuning of your Violin since I last played
upon it, it is a quarter of a tone flatter than mine
here." Upon the instrument being examined, it
was found to be as the child had stated. To give