The Virginia Gazette

To the Monitor.

SIR,

Upon the perusal of your Paper upon Music, I find, That unless a Man is to sit like an Animal, void of all Symptoms of Reason, for Three or Four Hours, for the Sake of giving Pleasure to the Organs of Hearing, Music is thrown away upon him. I confess, I was once fashionable enough to be led away by the Stream; and at my first going to London, was inclined to learn to play upon some Instrument, and my Father, to indulge me, bought me a Drum; I must acknowledge this Instrument gave me a World of Pleasure for some Time; but the Italian Singers, were just arrived, and my Companions soon laugh'd me out of my Drum, and to refine my Taste, carried me to the Opera. In Short from Tuesday to Saturday, and from Saturday to Tuesday, the Topick of every Conversation ran upon the beautiful Passage of a Chromatick Song of Signora Cuzzoni, and the Lively Division of Signora Faustina. Then the pathetick Song of Senesino was ravishing; and tho' not a Hundredth Part of the Audience either understood Music, or Italian; yet, when a Connoisseur gave the Word, 'twas Tinder to the Soul. O Cara! Bravo! Bravissimo! &c. went thro' the House. I attended this August Assembly for a whole Winter, except one Night, for which Neglect I was very near forfeiting my Understanding. But, at last, I grew tir'd of the Expence, and asham'd at my Folly, for throwing away so much Money, and more Time, upon a Jargon of Sounds, without Sense.

And, Folly as it grows in Tears,
The more extravagant appears.
Hud.

I hope your Worship will not be offended at the Comparison I am going to make; but I assure you, 'tis my real Opinion. Know then, Sir, that my Father and Mother, when they were pleas'd to exert themselves, made as much Harmony between them, as I have heard at any One of these Operas; My Mother had as shrill a Pipe as ever was heard: My Father as deep a Bass; both excellent Lungs; and when they were inclin'd to set off upon any little Family Dispute, the Harmony of Sounds were undeniably distinguish'd: And, I think, from the little Judgment I am able to form, it was a true Representation of what they call in the Terms of Music Fugue. Sometimes they went off together like unto a full Orchestra, that made the House ring again; whilst, whose Breath fail'd, made a Pause for a few Bars, whilst the other carried it on; then join'd; then single; and often ended as they begun. I must acknowledge, had I never been at an Opera, I shou'd not have taken This for a Description of Harmony.

Zachary Downright.