BURNEY, HISTORY OF MUSIC.]
who hath proposed a play in Italian for the Opera, which T.
Killigrew do intend to have up; and here he did sing one of the
acts. He himself is the poet as well as the musician; which is
very much, and did sing the whole from the words without any
musique prickt, and played all along upon a harpsicon most
admirably, and the composition most excellent. The words I did
not understand, and so know not how they are fitted, but believe
very well, and all in the recitative very fine. But I perceive
there is a proper accent in every country's discourse, and that
do reach in their setting of notes to words, which, therefore,
cannot be natural to any body else but them; so that I am not so
much smitten with it as it may be I should be if I were
acquainted with their accent. But the whole composition is
certainly most excellent; and the poetry, T. Killigrew and Sir R.
Murray, who understood the words, did say most excellent. I
confess I was mightily pleased with the musique. He pretends not
to voice, though it be good, but not excellent.
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