The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-06-14

These and many other abuses the speaker
represented in vivid colors. He dealt out a
portion to all. The whole address was rio b
in instruction, which might easily be shown,
had we attempted an abstract. We only re
greet that everybody could not have been
there, to have listened to, and appreciated
all that the speaker said.
The afternoon was spent in much the same
manner as heretofore mentioned.
Friday morning the meeting was called to
order by the chair. The following resolu-
tons were then introduced by Mr.. J.. e..
Rust, and after some discussion were unan-
imously adopted.
LIST. =" Resolved, that we consider the
| World of Music;-The Vocal and Instrument
tai Self Instructor, published by Messrs.
Moore and Silsby at Bellows Falls, worthy
of our patronage, and ought to be in the
hands fevery lover of Music in the State.
| End. " Resolved, that we will spare no
pains to introduce and recommend works so
ably conducted, and so wei! calculated to
produce an increase of interest in the study
and practice of music"
The hour having arrived for the meeting
OF the singers Or. Merrill at the request
OF Mir. Mason occupied a portion of the
time with Interesting remarks) Mr. Mason
spent the day exercising the several choirs
that were present. at the close of which, the
Convention dissolved.
10 those who had been present from the
beginning, and watched the progress of the
singers IN giving expression and soul to what
they sung, the exercises must have been tru-
ly gratifying. To us they were enphattcaliy
so. Although, having been impressed for
several years with the wretched state of
public sentiment in regard to church Psalm
ody, and the mere icretched execution of this
part Of divine service in many of our church.
es, yet we never before were so seriously
impressed with the destitution of soul in this
part OF church service. 1t is morally GER
tain to us. that no person can sing piece of
poetry 'c'H, who cannot read it well, and
cannot appreciate and imbibe its spirit. In
order then to sing ,ceH, it is indis pensably
necessary that person he able to read well and
fully imbibe the emotion of the author Tn
I'll this can be done, how can he "excite, deep
en- and prOtong" the same emotion in others?
Sing without emotion:! Nonsense. Did the
children of Israel, after crossing the Red Sea
sing without crnotion? Do the heavenly
choirs, with their golden harps, sing without
e.notion' Do they not imb:be the spirit of
what they sing: As well suppose the sun
TO SHINE without giving light. The fiji st thing
10 be done then, in our apprehension, is to
study the language set 10 music, with refer
ence TO the sense, expression and the emo
tlou which it is intended to excite. After the
performers soul is thus imbued with the
emotion of the author, let him READ it loud
with reference TO sense and emotion, after
wards endeavol TO c'othe the words with the
exquisite dress of angelic harmony.
his study in our opinion should COM
mence in the primary schools, and be carried
to ITS most exalted pitch Of perfection in the
christian choir.
The business Committee, q. Il. Packard,
E. X. PrOuty and r. l. KiIby,) in behalf of
the Convention would tender the most cor
dial thanks to Prof. l.. Mason, for his high
ly obliglng sit to Middebury, for his gen.
tlenanly and skilliul management of the
singing exercises, and for his highly inter
estins and instructive address. Also, the
Com. of the congregational church, for the
use of their elegant and comnodious house,
during the sitting of the Convention.
The Com request the secretary to prepare
copy Of the proceedings for publication.
G. G. BI>BEE, Secretary