We were first of all fuguists and contrapuntists; but after the 'Stabat Mater' of Rossini we felt the attraction of theatrical melody so strongly that we have never wished to taste a fresh dish.

Religious music in Spain has run parallel with Italian opera, a thing of which the canons are ignorant; they would be furious if at the mass you played them anything by Beethoven, which they would consider profane, but they listen with mystic unction to fragments which have gone the round of all the theatres in Italy.

And about the plain song, you will ask?
The plain song had its nest in this Primacy.
It was preserved here for centuries and purified; all the best was collected in Toledo, and from the books in this Cathedral have gone forth the chorales of all the churches in Spain and America.

Poor plain song! it has long been dead.

You see for yourself, Gabriel, who comes to the Cathedral at the hour of the choir?
No one, absolutely no one.