Charles Burney

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

London: T. Becket and Co., 1773

Introduction

With these views I left London in the
beginning of June 1770, and as I did not
intend my work should be local, I deter-
mined in the way to Italy to acquire what
materials I could relative to the history
of French music, as well as to inform
myself of its present state. But it would
have been both arrogant and unjust to
have attempted this in the few weeks
allowed me to remain in France, had I
not before twice visited Paris, during
which time I frequented very much its
public places; and for twenty years past
I had constantly been supplied with the
works of the best composers, and the
writings of the best authors on the sub-
ject of music, in that kingdom.