Anecdotes of Great Musicians/Anecdote 175
175.—POT-BOILERS.
Most composers are driven to the writing of "potboilers," i.e., music that does not contain their best effort, but which is written to please the public and bring in a needed supply of the "filthy lucre." Händel did much of this kind of work and sent out many inferior compositions, but was not proud enough of them to sign his name to them. Once, when attending a kind of promenade concert with some friends, Händel said to one of them, "Come, sit down, let us listen to this piece. I want your opinion of it." In a few minutes his friend said:—
"It is not worth listening to; it is very poor stuff."
"You are right, sir, it is very poor stuff. I thought so myself when I had finished it."
The friend hastened to apologize, but Händel cut him short, saying that the music really was poor, as his time for writing it was limited, and assured him that his opinion was as correct as it was honest.