The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-06-25
COMMUNICATIONS.

IL gives us much pleasure to notice the inn
provements which are making in our country
villages IN the knowledge and practice of sacred
music. For long series of years the music of
our churches in the country, has been OF char
acter too light and airy to excite the solemn
aud devotional feelings of the heart. Rapid pas
sages and sudden transitions have been thought
by some of our modern composers 10 constitute
the true sublime In music, and indeed they have
succeeded so far in imposing this musical trash
on the world, aud the people become SO habitu-
ated TO these flying airs that those who have
undertaken 10 introduce different style have
found very formidable opposition in the super
stltion, prejudice and de9p-rooted habits Of our
good people in the country but we rejoice that
true standard Of musical taste has been erect
ed IN many of our worshipping assemblies, and
we hope the period will soon arrive when the
people Will more generally love the slowly-mov-
ing yet animated strains of melody We we're
few days agone much gratifed with an exhibi-
ton of the musical society in New Gloucester.
They performed a number Of judiclously selected
anthems and short pieces with much good taste
and effect We forbear TO notice particularly
any one piece, for all were executed in that APP
propriate and animated manner which discover
ed TO the audience that the performers felt
some good degree of that spirit with which the
original authors were inspired.
Their manner of keeping time particularly
attracted our notice, and showed Us very clearly
the happy effect which correct time al measure
give 10 music.
Many who profess to be skilled ia the art OF
singing are very deficient in their manner of
beating time. They indeed may measure the
time correctly, but this is not all that is requir-
ed TO give to music its proper effect Time
ought to he beaten with spirit and animation
and, IN order 10 do tins with accuracy the first
part of the bar must be struck with force which
places the accent where it ought TO be, keeps
the singers together, and adds life and pathos to
ali the parts. We do not hesitate to say, the
society IN New Gloucester in this respect on
thelrlast anniversary, acquitted themselves with
much honor, and set an example worthy to be
followed by other country villages. We were
peculiarly Interested IN those parts performed
with SO franc voices There sounds appeared to
proceed not from any thing like ennu, but from
hearts alive to the charms of music, and suscep-
tIble Of the finest feelings. For accomplishments
Of this kind, young Ladies are more to be envied
than for dress, ornaments spended equipage.
While we are speaking Of the performances
of the day we would not pass SUD siientio
the Grafton given on the occasion by PELEG
CHANDLER ESQ in which he deiineated, in a
very chaste style, the moral influence music has
had Ia the different ages of the world. In adj
verting TO the history of Scotland ne very feel
ingly described the charms Of the music Of that
country, and the magical effect of the sounds OIL
Wallace's bugle on the minds Of his noble SOL
diery We were also highly gratifed with that
part OF the address III which were clearly stated
the duty we owe one another, and the oblioa-
tons we are under to that being who made us
TO praise him with hymns and spiritual songs
through the endless ages Of eternity.