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Mark's church, who most excel in mere church music, accompanied only by the organ. The voices were not good enough for long solo parts, not strong enough to get through a large band; yet, there were many very pleasing and agree- able movements, and some of the cho- russes were well worked in the fugue and oratorio way.
But for this kind of music, that of Handel will, I believe, ever stand su- perior to all other writers; at least I have heard nothing yet on the continent of equal force and effect. There is often in the compositions of others, more me- lody in the solo parts, more delicacy, and more light and shade, but as to harmony and contrivance, no one comes near him by many degrees. I must confess that I had heard some of Handel's music so long, and often so ill performed, that I was somewhat tired and disgusted with it; but my Italian journey, instead of lower- ing the esteem which I ever had for the
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