Charles Burney

The Present State of Music in France and Italy (2nd, corrected edition)

London: T. Becket and Co., 1773

Naples

I am ready to grant that the Neapo-
litans have a natural disposition to mu-
sic; but can by no means allow that they
have voices more flexible, and a language
more harmonious than the inhabitants
of the other parts of Italy, as the direct
contrary seems true. The singing in the
streets is far less pleasing, though more
original than elsewhere; and the Neapo-
litan language is generally said to be a
jargon, that is unintelligible to the
rest of Italy*.

But though the rising generation of
Neapolitan musicians cannot be said to
possess in a supreme degree either taste,
delicacy, or expression, yet their com-
positions, it must be allowed, are ex-
cellent, with respect to counterpoint and
invention; and in their manner of exe-