In Article 162 I translated a “Memoria" purportedly written by G. M. Casini. It appears to be one of several fabrications by the late Mario Fabbri — a case of nomen est omen. It can be disregarded without influencing the main point of the article: that Handel wrote the anonymous prelude that pops up like a petunia in the onion patch which is the Medici Harpsichord Manuscript.
I offered to present a paper on the subject at the next Halle Handel Conference. The lady in charge sent my article and recording to an in-house colleague, then to two experts, who all thought it impossible that Handel could have written the piece. I thought their alternative suggestions absurd, but…as Naoko always says, music isn’t science; there is no mathematically secure measurement in matters of taste and style. Several friends I trust more than Halle's reviewers think I might be right; that it can‘t be proven; and that that is all that can be said. Fair enough.
My argument regarding Louis and Charles Couperin has had a similar reception (see Article 1). The Louis Couperin Establishment rejects it; people with open minds accept the strong possibility that I was right, now some 20 years ago. Many of the best have come down solidly in my favor. I wish I could be around in 100 years to see what people think then, but I‘m beginning to doubt whether anyone will care, or even be sentient at that date.
20 March 2026
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