John Weeks Moore

“ Excellent and attractive indeed must the airs be that can atone to English sentiments and habits for the recitative and consequent destruction of all interest in the language, the incidents, and the plot. It is sufficient that scarcely a second attempt of the kind has been since made. There was in Arne's compositions a natural ease and elegance, a flow of melody which stole upon the senses, and a fulness and variety in the harmony, which satisfied, without surprising, the auditor by any new, affected, or extraneous modulation. ”

“ In the present reign of brilliant execution, it is hardly possible to find songs of more crowded notation. 'Fly soft ideas,' and The Soldier tired,' are still indeed amongst the standard airs of agility in concerts ; and the en-tire character of Mandane has been, ever since Arne's time, the universal trial of an English singer's abilities. With this composer ended the accession of new principles to the art of dramatic writing. ”

“ His first stealthy acquisitions in musical science, made chiefly during the night, contrary to the direction of the principal pursuit of his life, and in opposition to the will of his father, are proofs of that irresistible propensity by which genius, perhaps universally, governs its possessors. ”