G R E- F. RY. 
We have then from M. Gretry amacceunt of his arrival 
and eftablifhment at Paris; of the reception of near 30 of 
his comic opéras, and the cubals, difficulties, and hundred 
headed hydra which he had to encounter, of poets, rival 
compotere, performers, &c. Thefe little hiftories of drama- 
tic intrigues and vexations are frequently mixed with re- 
fieCtions, of which the poualeiett be ufeful to-young com- 
pofers for the theatre. 
“The fecand and third idhaines of M. Gretry’s publication 
are no longer biographical, but a further analyfis of his 
operas, and of the charadlerg and paffions which he had- to 
exprefs ; in which there is much refinement, fome ¢ 
and complete felt. fatsateetie Many of thefe tittle’ cays, 
are, however, very ingenious, and well worthy the attention 
of young dramatic compofers, and the -approbation-of the 
public more than his own, 
B hen an author praifes himfelfas Hberally as he 
wifhes to be pried by others, we not only doubt of his mo- 
defly but m 
ake effays i in the third volume contain — ee 
principles, eey 3 Pp: 191, 
he begins t to treat of the "auboBtiog af mutic, and 
its technica. In this feétion of his work the chapter on the 
abufe of fcience is the beft.. He gives feven hints to the 
- young ftudents, (apergus,) for the amelioration and extenfion 
of eftablithed rules of compofition, fome of which are prac- 
i a but not new ; others feem huzasded and not defen- 
bl 
xe reform of clefs, the ftaff, folmifation, and -divi- 
fions i time, have been = ly Jet aa sa at- 
tem, 
ery note of 
ve been more pet ont expreffed = a eer ies 
‘whole ci prety chor 
etry, In ores fo many works during-30 years 
‘of his aétive a could have litt Dae for ewe 7 the 
elementar ks (or the grimoirs, a3 he calls them) that 
urope, er he would not have 
‘were publi E 
‘imagined himfelf the original es ei of all the improve- 
ments which he has propofed, and which, from fo expe- 
“rienced a c fer, came with fuch weight, that his work + 
was order t overnment to be printe ~ see ufe of the 
ftudents in the national Confervatorio at P: 
n! 
Many of his thort hints: and 
the me of a inftrutions mut tbe allowed 
nighted travellers of | 
ing matters for time and ¢ ‘tune, ee 
tervals. . 
_M. Gretr ‘ al to I ys he fpeaks wi 
* of its ~~ ater mg vol. iti. - asi note *, 
_fecommends the prevailing” < ~ tala fingers to 
sie Gantt seaple le of ling Sen 
Gaprice, | 
"recommend toleration to a Fi in of 
Renee tee a on 
themfelvesat Paris. “ Italian peers is the antidote to the 
evil which we have to-cure.- I-don ean bad fingers, whe 
8 an ignorant ambition of gr tea * ate embellifhing every 
e, leave not a fingle paflageof the original melody un 
adulterated they are detelted in Italy as well as im 
France.” 
Yet,vin his predi€tion what mufic «will be in future, (after 
iving hi — hae make was, with the 
ledge of the Gneclak of perfons in power ; but iub- 
dued as Italy is by Gallic plunderers, that country, and:all 
ivilized Europe, muit bid adieu to mulic, ly ric poetry, 
painting, fculpture, and architeCture, im the true genuine 
tafte of that de are country, fo epieticilly: it yled the 
mother and nurfe of the fine arts ; ; with which, in medera | 
times, the globe has been embellifhed. 
Among modern mufical ‘improvements: and inventions, 
mentioned and propofed by M. Gretry isErard’s invention of 
an —— capable of cre/tendo and diminuendo, by g o eater orlefa 
we, 
which would deftroy. all harmonical. proportion — true. i 
_ tonation, inthe — manner as finging out of t 
if the queen. of | es at one time ‘cachet 28 French 
German: 
who eftablifhed the modern 
7 favoured at nes as 
oO an arches 
Gluck, a native of German 
Freneh ityle of opera, was. Bh 
well_as at Par: ny wh 
- When the author tells us pe 458) tha young ieee 
nging at Rome have. ieee tears from hi nour - 
ae in their Velfees op a fingle anes does. ‘t not 
ongs? which, when nt, fanciful, aiid:  pclrenecited, 
extend the fenfe of the word to which they a are applieds and 
It will, perhaps, be thought b —e —, that a the 
sintoads praife, and all ag oe 
centre—himfelf and his own ie 
ts leave 
rath bie precepts a are = few and. oo heorys 
feabl erience und them. fall, He 2: 
