A Biographical Dictionary of Fiddlers di A. Mason Clarke
Biographical Dictionary of Fiddlers. 1.09
evening he gave a quintet of Boccherini, a quintet of Haydn, and three of his own compositions—a concerto, an air varie, and a rondo. He played all these things with the most perfect purity, and with the expression which is peculiar to his manner. His expression, nevertheless, seemed to me more artificial than natural, and indeed his whole execution, from the too salient evidence of the means by which he gives that expression, has the appearance of mannerism. His bow stroke is skilful, and rich in shades of expression, but not so free as Lafont's, and therefore his tone is not so beautiful as that of the latter, and the mechanical process of the up and down stroke of the bow is too audible. His compositions are distinguished above almost all those of any other Parisian violinist by their correctness, neither can they be denied a certain originality, but being somewhat artificial, mannered, and out of date in style, the hearer remains cold and without a sense of emotion. You know that he frequently plays and takes great pleasure in Boccherini's quintets. I was desirous of hearing him in these quintets, with about a dozen of which I am acquainted, in order to see whether, from the manner in which he executes them he could succeed in making one forget the poverty of the compositions.
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Dictionary Fiddlers Boccherini Haydn Lafont Parisian Boccherini His His His You
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