Part 11 (1/2)

[84] See for the Examples, Pl. V. Numb. 8.

[85] See Example, Pl. VI. Numb. 1.

[86] See Example, Pl. VI. Numb. 2.

_N.B._ An _Appoggiatura_ cannot be made on an unaccented Syllable.

[87] See for Examples, Pl. VI. Numb. 3.

[88] See for Examples, Pl. VI. Numb. 4.

[89] Some, after a tender and pa.s.sionate _Air_, make a lively merry _Cadence_; and, after a brisk _Air_, end it with one that is doleful.

[90] Though this Chapter regards Singers who make it their Profession, and particularly those who sing on the Stage, yet there are many excellent Precepts interspersed, that are of Use to Lovers of Musick.

[91] _Kyrie_, the first Word of the Ma.s.s-Musick in the Cathedral Stile, is not so difficult to them as the _Cantata's_; and the _Latin_ in the Service, being familiar to them, saves them the Trouble of attending to the Words.

[92] _Thomas Morley_ (who lived above an hundred Years ago) in the third Part of his Treatise, pag. 179, speaking of _Motetts_ or Anthems, complains thus:--'But I see not what Pa.s.sions or Motions it can stir up, being as most Men doe commonlie Sing,--leaving out the Ditty--as it were a Musick made onely for Instruments, which will indeed shew the Nature of the Musick, but never carry the Spirit and (as it were) that lively Soule which the Ditty giveth; but of this enough. And to return to the expressing of the Ditty, the Matter is now come to that State, that though a Song be never so wel made, and never so aptly applyed to the Words, yet shall you hardly find Singers to expresse it as it ought to be; for most of our Church-men, (so they crie louder in the Quire then their Fellowes) care for no more; whereas, by the contrarie, they ought to study how to vowel and sing clean expressing their Words with Devotion and Pa.s.sion, whereby to draw the Hearer as it were in Chaines of Gold by the Eares to the Consideration of holy Things. But this, for the most part, you shall find amongst them, that let them continue never so long in the Church, yea though it were twentie Years, they will never study to sing better than they did the first Day of their Preferment to that Place; so that it seems, that having obtained the Living which they sought for, they have little or no Care at all, either of their own Credit, or well discharging of that Dutie whereby they have their Maintenance.'

[93] In _Italy_, the Courts of _Palma_, _Modena_, _Turin_, &c. and in _Germany_, the Courts of _Vienna_, _Bavaria_, _Hanover_, _Brandenbourg_, _Palatine_, _Saxony_, &c.

[94] There have been such, who valued themselves for shaking a Room, breaking the Windows, and stunning the Auditors with their Voice.

[95] The renowned Abbot _Steffani_, so famous for his _Duetto's_, would never suffer such luxuriant Singers to perform any of them, unless they kept themselves within Bounds.

[96] _Nicolini_, who came the first time into _England_ about the Year 1708, had both Qualities, more than any that have come since. He acted to Perfection, and did not sing much inferior. His Variations in the _Airs_ were excellent; but in his _Cadences_ he had a little of the antiquated Tricks. _Valentini_, (who was here at the same Time) a Scholar of _Pistochi_, though not so powerful in Voice or Action as _Nicolini_, was more chaste in his Singing.

[97] The two Women, he points at, are _Cuzzoni_ and _Faustina_.