Handel’s Commonplaces

It takes as great a composer as Handel—or rather it would take as great a

composer if he could be found—to be able to be as easily and triumphantly

commonplace as Handel often is, just as it takes—or rather would take—as

great a composer as Handel to write another _Hallelujah_ chorus. It is

only the man who can do the latter who can do the former as Handel has

done it. Handel is so great and so simple that no one but a professional

musician is unable to understand him.

The Note-Books of Samuel Butler · 第 177 / 602 题