220.—MUSIC VS. CONVERSATION.
Music is one of the most powerful known incentives to conversation. To appreciate this statement one has only to use his powers of observation at the next social gathering he may happen to attend. Things may have been as dead as a door nail before, but let some one begin to play or sing and at once numerous individuals more sociable than polite feel urged to start conversation with their neighbors. Such an occasion seems quite a test of true politeness, and yet were one to intimate on such an occasion that any law of good breeding had been infringed much offense would be taken.
Were the musicians to follow the plan taken by Corelli, the great violinist, a better state of things might gradually come about.
On one occasion he was performing at the house of Cardinal Ottoboni for a select gathering. Observing the cardinal taking part in what seemed to be an interesting conversation with a guest while he was playing, Corelli laid down his instrument in the middle of his performance, politely remarking, "I fear my music interrupts your Grace's conversation!"