Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-05

Extract from series OF letters, written By
an american gentleman while in Asia. 10
his friend in Boston. The writer uuior.
tunate y died b. the plague. on his pas.
sage lror Alexandria, III Egypt, 10 Con.
stantinople, in Grecian vessel.
IB0st9a Patriot.
No. 49,
The pleasing reflections arising from hav.
ing rerused Eastern tales, which had 50 Of.
ten hcguiled many CT my leisure hours,
causing the mind 10 dwell Oh scenes that
can cxisi.'orIy in The Imagination, almo.;
led ne TO fancy that they would be realized
in Asia, those beautiful compositions Often
executed in our Theatres under the title ci
Turkish .I'usick," tending to strengthen
.he Illusion.
The idea of wandering by moonlight a.
mong groves OF orange and ctpn, The sen
ses gratifed by inhaling the fragrant per.
iume of the jessamine and myrtle. while
listening to the Moorish flute" and En-.
chanting voice OF some tair Circassian, often
during my voyage, banished sleep at the
silent hour OF midnight. This pleasing
dream, however, in great measure van.
ished, on discovering that the Turks pos.
sessed not Tic least knowledge of vocal ma
sick, and what little they knew OF inStnl-
mental, consisting only in blowing through
a copper trumpet, and beating on some.
thing: composed of wood and shecpSSin
called drum, in consequence of IFS bearing
a stronger resemblance to that instrument,
that TO any other.
To describe the sounds would be impos-
sible It's absolutely necessary to fear
them to torn any thing like correct idea
otths impression they make on the imagi-
nation-something similar however, may
be produced by tying several cats together
by their tails, taking care to beat time in
unison with their voices with leather.
headed drum stick on board fence.
The music, if such il can be called, ap-
parently gives great delight TO the children,
and lower order OF society, who are seen
running after the performers, Boosting 70
each other of its superiority over that the
Europeans.
A Turkish lady who is in The habit Of
visiting in the family where reside, Ian
cies she performs remarkably well Gu the
piano for.et Her method is to beat with
both hands Unfortunately on any Of the
keys, aud tire more noise she M kes, The f.
ner she conceiyes the music. have never
had ii in my power TO witness this scene, as
she is not permitted TO enter tie house IN.
til all the male part OF the family are turned
out of doors.
The musical Instruments used by the
Grec!ans. are the violin and guitar, with
another made of the. she'll OF gourd
strung with cat-gut This, as well as tue
guitar, is touched with quill instead of the
fingers, and they are universally accompa.
MED by the voice, excepting when used Ter
dancing, at which time the violin is gene
rally introduced. The effect produced BY
these instruments, combined with the shriIl
voices OF the Greeks, tend merely to prove
that the minds OF some are as well gratiiied
with discord, as others arc with harmony.
Ii is certainly extraordinary, considering
the ,Dximity of Italy, where The science
of music hasSttained IFS highest state Of
perfection, and the continual intercourse
between the Italians and the inhabitants
dwelling Oh the borders Of the LevaDt seas,
that their style should never haze been in
troduced among the Grecians, Egyptian,
or Turks; and that the music OF all nations
TO the eastward OF Italy, Throughout the
known world, with the exception OF lew
places in Europe, shoald so far vary from
the general ideas conceived OF harmony in
sounds, as TO create disgust, rather than
pleasure