Note 69 — CHAP. VII.

Pierre Simone Agostini lived about threescore Years ago. Several Cantata's of his Composition are extant, some of them very difficult, not from the Number of Divisions in the vocal Part, but from the Expression, and the surprising Incidents, and also the Execution of the Basses. He seems to be the first that put Basses with so much Vivacity; for Charissimi before him composed with more Simplicity, tho' he is reckoned to be one of the first, who enlivened his Musick in the Movements of his Basses. Of Pierre-Simone nothing more is known but that he loved his Bottle, and when he had run up a Bill in some favourite Place, he composed a Cantata, and sent it to a certain Cardinal, who never failed sending him a fixed Sum, with which he paid off his Score.