The Litchfield County post., 1827-08-30

cited, and retired at early hour, with admirable
neutrality-suspicious. paper.
FOR THE COUNTY POST.
Mr. SMIrH,-PcrIaps one of the most important
particulars in regard to our style of singing, and
one which has been but little regarded in teach
ing is distinction of articuation l know it is &C
knowledged by every one, and generally nculcated
in schools that singers should articulate their words
distinctly, but do they Is it not almost always ne
cessarv that the audience should be furnished with
psam-books, and pay close attention to them too, If
they would understand the words which the choir are
singing? Yet there is absolute necessity for such
state of things this. believe good reason can
be shown why singers in singing words to common
plain tunes where there is not improper proportion
of surs cannot articulate them plainly when
reading them. We have long been taught to read
distinctly, and we require it of teacher Of reading
that he not only tell his pupils to read distinctly but
show them how to do and should he neglect that
part of instruction, should consider him wholly in
competent for his business. But in singing the case
is different; have become accustomed 10 tie rum
bling monotony of singers; und though we often con-
plain that we cannot understand the words, yet " no
wonder; for by far the greater part otthe choir usual
Iy speak When such is the fact i, does good
for the leader or teacher to endeavour The
fault by calling upon the singers to speak their words
palmer; this produces no other effect than to make
them teacher and all, bawl the louder. But it is
cessary go farther and to show them that the diff
Guilty lies in the articulation of the consonans, not al
together in neglecting them but also in misplacng
them. The novels being all that sound we
are naturally fond of dwelling upon them because
can do so with little exertion, and the conse-
quence is that when singing, especially upon the last
syllable of word pro!ong tho sound of the vowel
the full length Of time which the note will admit,
of course we either wholly neglect to articuate the
last letter letters of word or, what is still worse,
we prefix them the next; which makes the language
uninteigibe and often ridiculous. We will suppose
for example the first sanza Of the hundred and
seventeenth hymn, in Dwights Collection, sung after
this manner in the tune of Barby, almost any 9th
er tune of similar movement, if to the
Of the audience at all, it will appear something like
this,
Long ha-vi sat benea-th-e sou-n
D-of thy salva-shun LOr-
But still how weak my faiths tou-n
.D-and knowl-e-jaw-of thy wor-.
Now sir, believe this is not carrcature but if any
disposed to think it is let them listen carefully to
singers when they sing, and be particularly upon
their watch for that fault, and confident they will
not be long in discovering it; and if they have never
noticed it before, think when they have learned
find it, they will be able to detect it not only in
Others but if they singers in themselves do not
suppose that to every these ideas new, espe
cally since they have been very ably discussed by
Mr.. Hastings in his Dissertation Musical Taste a
book which | could wish were in the hands of every
person who attempts to sing in public.
But that this subject has not been properly viewed
by ALL appears from their negecting to apply the rem
edy, which is simply to clearly and orcibly artculate
the letters so as to finish the word syllable upon the
note to which it belongs. To facilitate the accom-
pishment of this object should be taken in seec-
ting for young learners furnish such are
if possible wholly without slurred notes, they should
also be ofthe Major Key, and such admit and even
require distinct and forcible articulation, amounting
almost to mark Of distinction every note. Such
tunes Peterborough, Dalston, SilyerSreet &c. if
carefully learned and properly performed will go far
towards establishing in young learners the habit OF
distncness in their articulation; while they are also
particularly well calculated to make them accurate in
time, without which they wholly uuft to attempt
any thing which intricate, which requires delica-
CIV and taste in its execution. Also while learning such
pieces young beginners may be taught to sing louder
and of course more harshy than would be proper in
the performance of any piece of music by more REIN
ed and accomplished executans.
Extract of letter from gentleman at present a
tour through keraacky and Ohio.
"LExIyGroN, Ky. June 24th, 1927.
~In nv letter of Saturday night mentioned storm
,hn E,lIir that II might cool the