The Zither Player
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| Geographic Coordinates: 47° 4' 55.07" N, 10° 26' 13.58" E |
If you stand on a crossroads during the time of the “Dread Knellings” (in the Holy Night between 11 and 12 o’clock) and play your zither, you can become an excellent player of this instrument. However, this only occurs under the condition that you utter not a single sound, no matter what kinds of entities approach you and talk to you.
In this manner, someone presented himself on the crossroads beneath the church square of Langesthei during these knellings, and started to play his zither to pass the time. Soon, all sorts of dark figures approached him, addressed him, and then went on their way again. He also thought he recognized his deceased parents, who talked to him as well.
Finally, the Devil stepped out of the black procession, and when our zither player also acted like a voice- and speechless statue towards him, the latter pressed his fingers so deeply into the strings that blood squirted out from beneath his fingernails. But from that hour onwards, this man could play his instrument with the skills of the greatest masters.(*)
(*) Compare the rather similar legends: “Der Schwegelpfeifer” in Vonbun-Sander, “Die Sagen Vorarlbergs”, 2nd Edition (1889), p. 32, and “Der Spielmann”, bei Zingerle, “Sagen aus Tirol”, 2nd Edition (1891), Nr. 682.
Source: Hauser - Sagen aus dem Paznaun und dessen Nachbarschaft, p. 1