No Englishman can study the history of music without being struck by two somewhat significant facts. First, that up to the 17th century, our country was in the front rank of European art; second, that for the last two hundred years she has declined-at...
No Englishman can study the history of music without being struck by two somewhat significant facts. First, that up to the 17th century, our country was in the front rank of European art; second, that for the last two hundred years she has declined-at all events, in the estimation of her neighbours-from the level of a firstrate to that of a second-rate Power.