152 Fine Arts. [Chap. X. 



century were probably more numerous than those 

 of any preceding age. Of these by far the greater 

 number were natives of Italy and Germany, espe- 

 cially the former. They were so many, indeed, 

 that no attempt will be made in this place to give 

 a list even of the most conspicuous. Nor is such 

 an enumeration necessary. The fame of the as- 

 tonishing musical powers possessed by Nicolini, 

 Farinelli, Gabrielli, Carestini, Giardini, Rubinelli, 

 ]\Iarchesi, and a multitude of others, has long per- 

 vaded the civilised world. 



The year 17^4 was rendered a memorable xra, 

 in the annals of music, by the splendid and mag- 

 nificent manner in which the birth and genius of 

 Handel were celebrated in Westminster Abbey, 

 and the Pantheon, under the immediate auspices of 

 the king and queen of Great Britain, and the other 

 most dignified personages in the kingdom. This 

 commemoration has been since established as an 

 annual musical festival, for charitable purposes *. 

 The number and excellence of the performers en- 

 2:aofed in this commemoration, and the stvle of 

 the music exhibited by them, may be safely pro- 

 nounced to have exceeded every thing of the kind 

 of which the history of the art gives us any ac- 

 count |. 



* Enajchrpitdia Britanniai, nrt. Music. 



t In 1784 this commemoration was celebrated by 500 voices 

 and instruments; in 1/85, by 6lC) ; in 178(), by 741 -, in 1787* 

 by 806\ These performers were, in general, of the very first 



class. 



