[ 366 ]
![next](graphics/next.gif)
TOC
|
performer, who is a fat, good-natured man, by being long accustomed to lead so great a number of hands, has acquired a stile of playing, which is somewhat rough and inelegant, and consequently more fit for an orchestra than a chamber. He sung, however, several buffo songs very well, and accompanied himself on the violin in so masterly a manner, as to produce most of the effects of a nume- rous band. After dinner, he had a second to accompany him in one of Giardini's solos, and in several other things.
I spent this whole evening with Barbel- la, who now delivered to me all the mate- rials which he had been able to collect, relative to a history of the Neapolitan conservatorios, as well as anecdotes of the old composers and performers of that school: besides these, I wrote down all the verbal information I could extract from his memory, concerning musical persons and things. During my visit, I heard one of his best scholars play a solo
|