Bingley’s Animal Biography.
THE EFFECT OF MUSIC ON A PERSON WHILE ASLEEP.
Dr. Burney, in his Present State of Music, relates the following story.
“Among the anecdotes,” says he, “relative to the strange effects of music, which were given to me by Lord Marshal, he told me of a Highlander, who always cried, upon hearing a certain slow Scots tune, played upon the bagpipe. General G. whose servant he was, stole into his room one night, when he was fast asleep, and playing the same tune to him very softly, on the German flute, the fellow, without waking, cried like a child.”
CONTRARY EFFECTS OF ITALIAN AND FRENCH MUSIC ON A GREEK LADY.
“A young Greek lady being brought from her own country, to Paris, some years since, was, soon after her arrival in that city, carried to the opera by some French ladies, supposing, as she had never heard any European music, that she would be in raptures at it; but, contrary to these expectations, she declared, that the singing only reminded her of the hideous howlings of the Calmuc Tartars; and, as to the machinery, which it was thought would afford her great amusement, she declared her dislike of many parts of it, and was particularly scandalized, by what she called, the impious and wicked imitation of God’s thunder. Soon after this experiment, she went to Venice, where another trial was made upon her uncorrupted ears, at an Italian opera, in which the famous Gizziello sung; at whose performance she was quite dissolved in pleasure, and was ever after passionately fond of Italian music.”
Dr. Burney’s Present State of Music.
ANECDOTE OF ZAMPERINI.
About the year 1775, Zamperini, one of the actresses at the opera, returning from Lisbon by sea, was so terrified by a storm, that she fell into a state of stupidity, from which nothing could relieve her. Upon her arrival at Venice, among her family, she received every assistance which medicine could give, but in vain. She ate, drank, slept, and performed all the functions of animal life; but she knew nobody, took no interest in any thing, and seemed to be sunk into the most profound state of unconsciousness. Some persons recommended that a harpsichord should be played in her presence: she was immediately affected; shortly after, she appeared so far sensible, as to take a part in the music, and even sung some favourite airs which were played to her. This was repeated frequently, during six months, and always with the same symptoms and the same effects. At first sight, any one would have taken her for an idiot: as soon as the harpsichord was touched her countenance changed, and, by degrees, she sang with as much expression and fire as ever; but, in a moment after, she relapsed into her former state of insensibility. Madame Durazzo, the lady of the imperial ambassador at Venice, had the curiosity to see her: she was moved with her situation, took her to her own house, and by care, medicine, and above all, by music, had the satisfaction of seeing her, in two years, completely restored to her original state of health and rationality: and in 1778, she appeared upon the stage at Venice, with the greatest success.