[Letter XLVIII, Vol. 2] 

There is nothing here, that I am aware of, which is interesting in the scenic part of the religious functions of this festival, with the exception of the music of a mass, called la Pastorale, in commemoration of that with which our Saviour is supposed to have been saluted by the shepherds, and usually imitative of the sounds of the pastoral pipes. This, which is various in various churches, is always composed according to the principles of the old school. Its tone, on this solemn occasion, is much relished by the Italians, notwithstanding they are by no means fond of ancient music, having (as I should imagine is the general disposition of man) much more sensibility to melody than harmony, and seldom pretending to a taste which they do not really is the general disposition of man) much more sensibility to melody than harmony, and seldom pretending to a taste which they do not really possess.