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are, indeed, fine toned instruments, but so
powerful, as to render all the rest of the
performance useless.
Though it was not a great festival, yet
the band was more numerous than ordina-
ry. I wanted much to hear the celebrated
hautbois Matteo Bissioli, and the famous
old Antonio Vandini, on the violoncello,
who, the Italians say, plays and expresses
a parlare, that is, in such a manner as to
make his instrument speak; but neither
of these performers had solo parts. How-
ever, I give them credit for great abilities,
as they are highly extolled by their coun-
trymen, who must, by the frequent hear-
ing of excellent performers of all kinds,
insensibly become good judges of musical
merit. People accustomed to bad music,
may be pleased with it; but those, on the
contrary, who have been long used to good
music, and performers, cannot. It is remark-
able that Antonio, and all the other violon-
cello players here, hold the bow in the old-
fashioned way, with the hand under it.
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