After persevering, but unsuccessful, endeavours to collect amateur singers who should give voice and effect to the ancient compositions, Bunsen succeeded in prevailing upon the Director of the Papal Choir to allow a certain number of its members to come quietly, on a regular evening, to his house, where during the winter months for many years he and his family and their chosen friends enjoyed those works of ancient genius in a degree of perfection nowhere else attainable : while the singers, undisturbed, and not compelled to confine their performance within restricted limits of time, and pleased, moreover, at being the sole objects of attention, gave full effect to every piece: and the few who were assembled to hear this performance will scarcely have heard the like again.