1809.] 
_ different from those of England ; indeed, 
{ may say, they: are so opposite, that it 
is impossible such a predilection for Ita- 
lian music should really exist amongst us. 
We know what fashion can do; and in 
this instance we cannot deny she has exert- 
ed heraccustomed influence. A man, how- 
ever, seldom wants a reason to justify 
what may further his interest; and as 
the proverbial gullibility of our nature 
has made it too much the interest of 
swarms of foreign miscreants to keep up 
this delusion, they haye found but little 
difficulty im producing arguments to 
prove the vast superiority of Italian over 
English music. ‘These arguments I shall 
examine in detail, which will lead me 
into comparisons between the two styles, 
which I feel certain will not fail to pro- 
duce in every English mind, a full con- 
viction that our English music has been 
degraded far. below its. merits. 
It is abominable to go to seven differ- 
ent London musical parties ina week, 
and hear nothing but’/a Yepetition of 
vilely executed Italian music, the value of 
which is not understood by three-fourths 
of the company. To understand Ita- 
lian music, ah Englishman must be edu- 
cated, the Italian style being unnatural 
to his feelings; he must have an educa- 
tion which a very large proportion of our 
people are totaily unacquainted with ; 
and hence itis, that we so often have the 
disgusting sight of an English fady mis- 
taking the shrugged shoulder, the un- 
meaning rattle, the over-stretched em- 
phasis, the yawning, drawling ad libitum, 
or the unnaturally rapid transition from 
fortissimo to pianissimo, for that national 
and characteristic light and shade, with 
which an Italian comes home to the feel- 
ings of a native Italian audience. How 
many voices, which, if empioyed in singing 
some plaintive Scotch air, would go to the 
souls of their untutored hearers, are thrown 
away, and spoiled by attempting such 
awkward imitations. These are corrup- 
tions which cannot be too severely repro- 
bated. 
The great argument upon which this 
unnatural fashion rests for its support, is 
the supposed fact, that Italian music is 
in every respect superior in value to the 
music of our own country; and hence 
have arisen various heavy charges against 
English music, which any impartial lover 
of music must pronounce to be totally 
void of foundation ; there not being one 
beauty in the Italian school (the language 
excepted) which,I believe, has not a pa- 
Correct Manner of reading “* The Absolution.” 555 
rallel in some of our immortal compo- 
sitions. 
Neither shall we be found wanting ia 
performers equal to the most celebrated 
of our continental rivals. Whilst we pos- 
sess billington, the Harrisons, Bartle- 
man, Knyvett, &c. we need not fear 
the united eiforts of Catalani, Grassini, 
Naldi, or the rest of those truly great 
and accomplished singers. 
_ Actuated by these sentiments, it is my 
intention to make such observations upon 
English music, in succeeding communi. 
cations, if this should find a place in the 
Monthly Magazine, as will, I trust, con- 
vince its readers, that our’own English 
music ought not to yield the palm of 
worth to that of Italy, or of any other 
country. Andthat thesé remarks should 
appear in something like the resem. 
blance of regularity, [know no better plan 
than that of dividing the subject into dif 
ferent heads, corresponding tothe differ- 
rent styles of English music; such ‘as 
tne oratorio, sacred music, the song, the 
glee, theatrical compositions, &c. | 
In these observations, it will be per- 
ceived, that I have confined niyself 
entirely to vocal music; in ‘instru- 
meutal compositions, however, England 
stands high in the scale of excellence, 
even if we wave the consideration, 
that many of the most celebrated instru. 
mental works of foreigners were cum- 
posed in this country. Aaa 
Muy 12,1809. Musicus, 
a ; 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazines 
SIR, 
HE usual manner of reading “ The 
Absolution,” which forms a part 
of our Church Service, is, in my opinion, 
very inaccurate. I bey leave to submit 
the following form, as less exceptionable : 
“ Almighty God, the father of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the 
death of asinner, but rather that he nay 
turn from his wickedness and live, aud 
(who) hath given power and command. 
ment to his ministers, to declare and 
pronounce to: his people, being penitent, 
the absolution and remission of their sins, 
pardoneth and absolveth all them that ° 
truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his 
holy gospel, &c.” | 
7 > has 1 n < ! 
Your readers. will observe, that the 
verbs “ pardoneth and ubsolveth” ave prine 
cipals in. the sentence, and that they re« 
fer to the nominative case ‘ Almighty 
God.” The personal pronoun “ He,” 
which 
| 
‘ 
i 
i 
— 
— 
