Handel

It is narrated by Dr Burney, the author of the "History of Music," that when Handel went to Ireland and took with him the MS. scroll of the "Messiah," which he had just composed; as he had to pass through Chester, a cathedral town, he thought it would be a good opportunity for trying some of the pieces. He was directed to a man named Janson, who was considered the best singer of the cathedral choir, and he asked him if he could sing at sight. "Oh! yes, he could sing at sight." However, when he began to rehearse, he found he made such bad work, and was so deficient in doing anything like justice to his composition, that Handel fell into a great passion, and reproached him in his usual violent manner when he was angry—" Yu schountrell, tit you not tell me dat you could sing at saighte?"

"Yes, sir," said poor Janson, "but not at first sight." Handel burst out a laughing, and the rehearsal went no further.