excerpt from 'Music, Men and Manners in France and Italy 1770' pp. 51 (223 words)
excerpt from 'Music, Men and Manners in France and Italy 1770' pp. 51 (223 words)
| part of | Music, men and manners in France and Italy, 1770 / Charles Burney |
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| in pages | 51 |
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This morning […] to the Church of < > to hear a messa in musica, ⌊or a mass in figurative counterpoint⌋ composed and under the direction of Signor Monza, Maestro di Capella. His brother played the violoncello with much facility of execution, but not a very pleasing tone or taste. The first violin, Signor Lucchini, who leads at the Burletta: 2 or 3 castrati sung. There was a apltry little organ erected on the occassion, though there is a large one in the church; but in a gallery too small for a band. The music was pretty. Long and ingenious introductory sinfonias to each concento or verse. The whole was in good taste and spirited; but the organ, hautbois and some of the fiddles being bad, destroyed the effect of several things that were well designed. As yet I have heard no great singer since my arrival in Italy. Signor Lucchini is about the same speed as a first violin with M. Lahanssay: there is no want of hand, but of high finishing. The 1st soprano was what we should call in England, a pretty good singer, with a pretty good voice; his taste neither original nor superior. The contr’alto, who was the second singer was likewise pretty well. His voice pleasing and he never gave offence by the injudicious management of it. |
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