Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-04-12
HARMONY AND MELODY.

Charles Butler IN his very interesting letter on auci-
en and modern music, introduces the following anec
dote, relating to Mara, au Italian vocalist.
"Once in private society, consequence of some
thing that fell IN conversation, she sung, without any
accompaniment, the simple air, in Marcello's Psalms
in my Distress called unto jehovah and he did hear
me- with such exquisite taste and pathos that she EN-
tranced every nearer. To infinite qualification she
repeated II half dozen times and every time more
beautifully and mPressively than BEFORE person. OBJ
serving that there volincelo in the room reoues
ted that she would permit the late Mr. Paxton who was
present. to accompany her; this was done il was fine
very hne-but the charm lost. This little circum-
stance, says Butler may be thought srenthen Rous-
seau's hypothesis hat harmony is unnatural and RAJ
Their weakens, than increases the effect of simple meo
dy' Mara was particularly distinguished by the man.
ner IN which she sung, know that my Redeemer ly
eth'' IL was beyond singing, 1t was eloquence. She
opened 1t with great solemnitv hope discernble
but 1t was only the dawn ofhope,-as she proceeded II
frightened and expanded but when she came TO the
last repetition of the sentence, the firm and animated
confidence with which she uttered the words Il know
and the Jubatlon ofsoul with which she pronounced
the words And IN my heart, shall see Cod no lam
guage can adequately tell The audience tlouobt not
OF the air. or of the band, of the singer thew
only felt the sentiment and they felt in all its sub
nifty"
The same writer makes the following remarks on the
subject OF musical taste among females i'm Eugland-
Let any one, who lives on terms of intimacy with
professor of real merit, ask of him. conidentallv bs
genuine sentiments on the taste for music i'm this coun-
seldom q
TO find, in large boarding school, two who had real
car for music After all, supposing high degree of
musical excellence ttainable,-shoud younr lady
should her parents DESIRE that she should be stared at
all eyes, and fatigue most ears? Yet this is generally
the case at every musical sat hone' which aspires tn ,
concert This observation, however, does not appv 70
the cultivation OF the art, the practice it with mo-
deraton where the performer aims at no more than to
sing supple melody, in time and tune and to obtain
general knowledge of harmony. When these are ac.
CURED, when the words Of the song are we'll chosen
(which should never be in language the perfect know
ledge and pronunciation of which the performer does
possess) when they sung with decent feeling. and
the songster, though pleased duse pleasure
her friends around her, evidently retires from the obser
wing eye,-t is of the highest qualifications which
gwen to mortals to receive. Perhaps an Italian NV
percrtic would deny TO be music In fact it is
thing: better; virtue and pleasure alternately smile
| There too does Hy'nen oft appear
I'm saffron robe, with taper clear.'n
Separation.-An English lady at Bouogne, lately
separated from her husband, has changed her repion
being resolved as she says Ito avoid his company in his
correspondent tells us that some land at Cbelten
han sold lately for Il 480 per acre; this is nothing to
London property; one Foot of Covent Garden cost Mr.
flayne three thousand pounds a few weeks since
| John Bun.
"R'ght ana Left"-On the walls in Liverpool Enc.
an1' 'he ioio"ng singular notice written espec-
aofe people are requested to keep the right hand
side oil the foot-path, and blackguards the left
| Nouet SuperScripon-T following superscription
appeared on letter which passed through the post of
hce IN Portland few days since:
/ swift as the dove your course pursue
Let nought your speed restrain
| Until you reach Miss Lucy Drew
In 1Ne'9fetd, state Of Maine.
| 900