The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

MUSIC.

THE TONIC SOL-FA ASSOCIATION.
Several months ago we gave some account of the
labours of the Rev. Mr. Curwen, of Plaistow, in promoting
popular instruction in vocal musie,—laboun on which, for
a considerable time past, we have bestowed a good deal of
ear attention, believing u we do that they are producing
very beneficial results. Mr. Curwen'a method of tuition is
sow spreading rapidly and widely. Many influential
elergymen of the established church, as well as of various
dissenting persuasions, co-operafe with him in furtherance
of his views. A. great number of schools attended by
large bodies of pupils have been formed, not only
in London and its neighbourhood, but in various
parts of the provinces ; and an association consisting of
many members, both lay and clerical, has been established,
and acts with seal and activity in promoting an object which
is justly regarded as conducive to the happiness and welfare
of the great body of the people.
This associatioa has taken its name from the peculiar
feature of Mr. Curwen's method of teaching ; the intro-
duction of a new and very simple mode of writing Toad
music. Its nature we briefly explained on a former oo•
casino; and we shall therefore only say at present that it
is founded on the application of the Italian system of
soyeggio," or " solfa.ing," need in teaching singing, to
musical notation. As in singing a melody, the notes are
sung to the syllables do, re, me, de., which designate
their position in the seal*, and are always the
same, whatever may be the key or pitch of the melody ; so,
in writing a melody the notes are expressed by the first
letters of those syllables, the key note being written LI, the
second M, the third F, and so on. By the addition of a
few very simple devices for marking the measure and
rhythm, vocal music, either in one or more parts, may be
noted down without ruled paper, and with an ease and rapi-
dity which can scarcely be imagined by thus who have net
tried it. Mr. Curwen, however, is anxious, in all his lec-
tures and writings, to impress upon t►e public, that hie
method is by no means intended to supersede the old esta-
blished notation. He desires it to be applied only to that
simple description of music which is suited to popular use.
For a florid opera air, or a piece of instrumental
music, it would be out of the question ; but for
song, a hymn, an anthem, a glee, a chorus, not crowded
with chromatic harmonies or rapid passages, Mr. Curwen
has shown, by the ample experience of hundreds of pupil%
that it can be used with great ease and advantage. In
learning it the youngest pupil acquires a knowledge of the
nature of the scale; and it is learned at ea small an expense
of time and trouble that it presents no obstacle to the sub-
sequent acquirement of the ordinary notation, which Mr.
Curwen always recommends.
The association are at present giving a uric" of choral
meetings at Finsbury Chapel, one of whieh took place last
evening. That great building was filled by a large and
most respectable assemblage ; and a selection of piect s of
vocal harmony, both sacred and secular, consisting ,
hymns, glees, and harmonised sown, wet sung by a
numerous body of pupils of the various schools, very nice-
looking young persons of both sexes, whose vocal perform-
ance both surprised and delighted us. It was not only pure
and accurate, but th, re was a warmth, a feeling, a fresh-
ness about it rarely met with in exhibitions of mach higher
t reteneions. Mr. Cnrwen himself was pretest; he did not
deliver a formal lecture, but occasionally made illustrative
observations of a very useful and interesting kiid.

_. , ?,-
tr
NEWBY PARK.—It is stated %tat; IR. i 4vi
York, hu just purchased Newby Park - . .
190,000 t. The purchue is made mt
•
Down*, already a large landed progriageg

F~

SPORTING.

-.-

I.ATEr BETTING AT MANCHESTER.

Tt littAlt.
The settl:ng yesterday and to-day engrossed the awns-
tiin of the member*, and passed off smoothly. At intervals
some few inetstraenis were made cid forthcoming mall,
the Daly new feature being the introluctmnof a number of
h tees fur the Chester Cup. For the Derby the only horses
in force were Dervish and King Tom.—Clueing prices.
E T ROPOL (TAN HANDICAP.
7 to 1 agst Utile David (t)
6to 1 any other (off)
CHESTER CCP.
600 to 7 agst Defiance (t)
600 to 5 Indian NI series (t)
600 to .6 Ile.apy
500 to 5 Muck Dieter (t)
Mai to 5 —31 r. Sykes (')
500 to a Muscovite ()
.500 to Kennyside (t)
.5109 to 5 Lusforda (t)
600 to S Doctor O'Toole (t)
500 to .5 Hanes Manes (t)
600 to Newmitutter (t)
deki to 5 Bit of Blue (i)
60) to 6 Talfourd (t)
559 to S Ooldfinder
500 to 150 apt all the 3 3r-olds (t)
DERBY.
S to 1 agst Autocrat (r)
9 to 1 Kum/ Tom e. h Se'.)
II t. I Davish (t to 54Y.)
Nutt to 20 timeless Colt (t 1
I to 1 Scott's lot (t tosd/.)

WORCES fER AUTUMN MEETING.—TVEsDAY.
H&NLIICAr SWILI'dTAICE.4 for 2.yr-olds. of 5 1011 S.
each. with 40 added ; certain winners extra. One wile.
Mr. T yens% b f Indiana. 1
Mr. Taylor'. b f Czarina (Charlton) 2
Mr. Copeland's bl f Ceetrea, Ws. to Maid of Delaware
(W. Sharpe) 3

Won by a heed.
SWIEPATAKE4 01 5 son. tun. with 23 added, for
houes not thorough-bred. 3.yr-olds, Bst 71b ; four, gat %IN
five, lost 41b; sin and aged, lost 9lb. Mares and Geldings
allowed 21b. Certain winnin sates. One mile and •
quarter.
Mr. K Reilley's br g Hope, 3 yrs, list 51b (U. Hall) I
Mr. b e Weilsbaurne, 4 yn, lOst
(Wakefield) 2
Mr. Wortley's br g by Bnbastes, out of Europa's
dam, 4 yrs, 9.1 6lb (T. Hall) 3
Won by • good length.
Woucetta Au rusts: Hasintear, a Sweepstakes of 10
son. each, 5 it, mud 3 only it dechreil, &c., with 100 son
added. Penalties for winners. Two MHOS. The highest
weight accepting having been 7,4 101 b, it was raised to
list 71h, and the others in proportion.
Mr. U. Walker's b g Radcliffe Hero, 3 yrs, 7d llb,
(Hughes) I
Mr. Rowdon's Little Davie, 4 yrs. 7st 91b (Aldcroft) 2
Mr. Hirer's Friday, 3 yrs, 7st 31b ....(J. Guater) 3
Von easily. Sugar Candy broke down.
SWAM STaao of 3 sots. each, with 26 added. One
mile and • quarter.
Mr. John's Hamlet, 4 yes, Tat 6lb (200 ....(Baker) 1
Mr. Page's b f Ada, 3 yrs, Est 41b (201.) (Hughes) 2
Mr. Nelson's be Priam the Third, 4 yn, Sit 81b
(301.) (Nelson) 3
Won by a neck.
flevali HANDICAP of 3 son. each, with 20 added, for
all ages. Hail • mile
Mr. Price's b f Maria Bell, 3 yrs, bat 10Ib (Aldcroft) 1
Mr. Steven's b f Indiana, '2 yrs, sst 61b ..(C. Prior) 2
Mr. Owisn's b f Voucher, 3 yn, 7st 21b ....(Cliff•) 3
Won cleverly.
ORDER OF RUNNING THIS DAY.
1.30 Frew Handiest) Hurdle Race.
2.30 Grand Annual Steeplechase.
3.30 Selling Steeplechase.