Saul is his name.  Of him we read:  “The spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and he was vexed by an evil spirit from the Lord.”  Where God is absent, and the Evil One present, there must dwell all manner of evil.  The hateful aspect of this man in his paroxysms of pain can readily be imagined.  His eyes turn the wrong way, and sparks of fire, so to speak, dart out one after the other; his face is so disfigured, that human features can scarce be recognised; his heart casts forth, as it were, a wild, stormy sea of foam.  Distrust, jealousy, envy, hatred, and fear burst forth from him.  Especially does the javelin, constantly flying from his hand, show that his heart rages fiercely with anger.  To sum up:  his soul-sickness is so great that the marks of hellish tortures can be clearly traced.  At lucid intervals (lucidis intervallis) or quiet hours, the tortured king realises his indescribable evil; and he therefore seeks after a man who can cure him.  But under such extraordinary circumstances can help be hoped for?  From human arts, Saul could not expect any salvation.  But God sometimes works wonders among men.  So he sends to him a noble musician, the excellent David, and puts uncommon power into his harp-playing.  For when Saul, so to speak, is sweating in the hot bath of sadness, and David plays only one little piece, the king is at once refreshed, and brought into a state of repose.

Thus the sonata represents—­

1.  Saul’s sadness and madness.

2.  David’s refreshing harp-playing, and

3.  Tranquillity restored to the king’s mind.

CHAPTER III

BERNARDO PASQUINI:  A CONTEMPORARY OF J. KUHNAU

In the year 1637 was born at Massa de Valnevola (Tuscany) Bernardo Pasquini,[48] who is said to have been one of the most distinguished performers on the organ and also the harpsichord.  He studied under Loreto Vittori and Antonio Cesti, but his real master was evidently Palestrina, whose scores young Bernardo studied with fervent zeal.  He was appointed organist of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, and, according to the monument erected to his memory by his nephew, Bernardo Ricordati, and his pupil, Bernardo Gaffi, in the church of San Lorenzo in Lucina of that city, the composer was for a time in the service of Battista, Prince Borghese.  The inscription runs thus:—­

“D.O.M.

“Bernardo Pasquino Hetrusco e Massa Vallis Nevolae Liberianae Basilicae S.P.Q.R.  Organedo viro probitate vitae et moris lepore laudatissimo qui Excell.  Jo.  Bap.  Burghesii Sulmonensium Principis clientela et munificentia honestatus musicis modulis apud omnes fere Europae Principes nominis gloriam adeptus anno sal.  MDCCX. die XXII.  Novembris S. Ceciliae sacro ab Humanis excessit ut cujus virtutes et studia prosecutus fuerat in terris felicius imitaretur in coelis.  Bernardus Gaffi discipulus et Bernardus Ricordati ex sorore nepos praeceptori et avunculo amantissimo moerentes monumentum posuere.  Vixit annos LXXII. menses XI. dies XIV.”