Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/113

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Eternal vigilance is said to be the price of liberty; and we might say that everlasting practice is the price of virtuosity. This principle has been illustrated in the lives of nearly every great artist. The following episode has been paralleled in the history of several of the famous virtuosi:—

Lolli, a celebrated violinist of the last century, found, when he went to Stuttgart, a very superior player named Nardini. In fact, Lolli was quite eclipsed, and he felt his secondary ability very keenly. He realized his need of practice so much that he requested a leave of a year's absence from his patron prince. But instead of putting in the time at traveling, which he had declared his intention to do, he retired to a small village, and worked at his instrument until the year had expired. Then he returned; and by the increased brilliancy and effectiveness of his playing, his rival, Nardini, was forced to seek other fields of labor.

Another violinist of note, Giardini, when asked how long it would take one to play the fiddle well, answered "Twelve hours a day for twenty years!"

So our first statement would seem to be correct; the only shortcut to virtuosity is to "keep everlastingly at it."  

When we read of Thomas Britton, who lived in London in Händel's time, we might almost believe that music furnished more of a bond between all classes of society in those days than in ours. Britton was a coal dealer, or, as the English say, a coal heaver, or dealer in "small coals." In spite of this humble occupation he was a great lover of music and had the loft over his coal warehouse so arranged as to accommodate an audience. Thither many of the celebrated musicians of the day