Scan 439
The violin, its famous makers and their imitators, 1887
18 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Its fugal subject—
3Molto Allegro.
5was well under way, and speedily in full sail. Ere long an evident indecision of purpose manifested itself, the motive or subject failing to elicit other than dubious answers to its calls; it was emphasized with loudness, not without signs of impatience, but to no purpose; all became hopelessly involved and incoherent, until at length, like the ice described by the "Ancient Mariner"—
6"The fugue was here, the fugue was there,
7The fugue was all around;
8It cracked and growled and roared and howled
9Like noises in a swound."
11The second Violin, overcome by the surging counterpoint, ceased playing, and with the adroitness of a Raleigh turned to the Prince and said, "Pardon me, your Royal Highness, I fear we have been carried away by the vortex of the melody." The execution of chamber compositions belonging to the higher walks of counterpoint is frequently disappointing; but seldom or never is the failure so gracefully and agreeably accounted for.
13SALE OF CREMONESE INSTRUMENTS AT MILAN, AT THE END OF THE LAST CENTURY.
15(Extracted from the "Gazetta di Firenze," 1790.)
17The following instruments were offered for sale at Milan, by Signor Francesco Albinoni, in March, 1790:—
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