The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-14 00:00:00

LONDON INSTITUTION.

Dr. CROTCH, on Wednesday last delivered a
Lecture on Music, forming one of a concluding series on that
subject, before the London Institution in Moorfields. The.
Theatre, or Lecture-room was crowded; amongst the cons:
pony present there.was an elegant and fashionable assemblage
of ladles. The Professor's Lecture on Mozart's fine Italian,
Opera of The Marriage of Fikaro was given ; he introduced
the lecture, anti concluded it with some interesting remarks
on the state of music—his observations on particitlar portions
of the Opera were illustrated with performances by him-
self oh the grand piano. With respect to
,the science of
music, especially its loftier species, such as Church Music, &c.
he considered it to be on the decline in England ; al-
though he admitted that there was throughout all rank a
growing and an improving taste for music. Ile acknowledged
that there had, during recent years, been many valuable im-
provements in the formation of nmsical instruments; but such
improvements regarded the progress of .tl4-arorauents and de-
corations of musical execution, rather than the advanoniet t of
the science of music itself. . Music was not promotcii by such
discoveries—it was perhaps retarded by them, as they were
calculated to confine the study and the attention to the man-
ner, to the decoration, and to lessen the consideration for the
higher and bolder walks of the science. With respect to
the merits of Mozart in particular, Dr. Crotch admitted hint
to be one of the greatest modern composers. His vocal cent" o-
sitions were beautiful, and his choral productions wire of a
noble order. _Mozart, he said, Ives a warm admirer of Handel;
many of his performances 'were founded on the models of that.
great master of the science of music ; in panicular several pas-
sages in one of the most engaging compositions in the.first act
of the Marriage of Figaro, Dr. Crotch asserted to be bor-
rowed from Handel. Speaking of some other compositions in
this Opera, the Profesaor • said that in the originals there
were some fine violin movements introduced, hut that ow-
ing to the bad management' of our OrcheStras, and the
disposition of violion performers, those portions off" the cont.
positions were invaribly omitted ; and he , declared that
icoozarnirnt,atnidie gat
l'etcltowanntlionnltibse.
the improving taste of the age for music ought not to suffer
such
compositions performers
a
to
nClPerr,seort'ahe.:l.
sions materially injuring the beauty of the corripositions.
Fit
mentioning some of the leading excellence s of pieces in the Ter-
riage of Fiera, Dv. Crotch particularly dwelt on the h
duet:" praised it far its sweetness and originality : and ill at; tra,"ei
his remarks with a perterrnanee on the grand piano. The lipc ries
of martial air, inp the beginning of the second Act, the lecturer
praised very highly on account of its originality and variety ;
and the decidedly martial portions of it, he applauded
markable for the spirit, solidity, and clearness which stinuld
always characterise that species of music. In conclusion, I)r.,
Crotch again reverted to the taste for music, which he WZIS
glad to be able to admit was improving in England. Itut real
taste Was not simwn in following every new composer.. Mozart
had his excellences, decidedly great excellences, and yet in
many of the commanding superioritiex of music, lie was not
greater than some corntosers who hail gone before bite; but
the bate of the passing hour had placed .Mozart at tha head of
the musical world ; and yet now, so changeable was that taste
there were persons innongst them who bad already discovered
successors that stirpaised illozart ! There undoubtedly ezi-ti ii
Italian and other composers of groat merit and genius—yet a
Handel could not be lorgotten nor surpassed ; but he declared
that some greater composer WAS wanted to -rescue the science of
music front its present state of inferiority and degradation en
England.