Charles Burney

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

London: T. Becket and Co., 1773

Geneva

of publishing, by subscription, six sym-
phonies *.

Besides M. Fritz, on the practical side,
Geneva can boast an excellent theorist,
M. Serre, an eminent miniature painter,
who has written some learned and inge-
nious essays on the theory of harmony.
I had the pleasure of conversing with
him on the subject, and of communicat-
ing to him the plan of my intended hi-
story of music. He is thought to be very
deep in the science of sound: seemed
pleased with my visit, and returned it
the same evening; entering very heartily
into my views, and seeming solicitous
that I should pursue them.

My going to M. Fritz, broke into a
plan which I had formed of visiting M.
de Voltaire at the same hour, with some
other strangers, who were then going to
Ferney. But, to say the truth, besides