The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-01

"oh! give me Music!n
1.-THE vOioo of singing" 10 rot silent in onI
soWer prairie. We have band of unframed
niustrels in the forest gallery all around, whose
t,ll and chorus are borne sweetly on the spring
and summer breezes. The partridge beats the
bass drum with his wide whirring wings; the
meadow lark emulates the fife; the bObolink war
s,ss flute note and a dozen crows cav out, over
and over. discordant accompaniment, most like
~. timing of ten hundred fddles Out in the
men sunshine, prairie chickens cluck and crow
mu,ically upon high rail fgnn1eud whole bat.
talon Of quails Whistles d to you through
The bending grass that shelters its sudden fight
The bummipg. bird and the humble-bee buzz mu-
sioslly from sweet to sweet. Surely need not
add. as climax, the shrill Lilliputian trumpeter
ofNiobt the tenor.yoiced mosquito!
The very winds sweep organ tones Of majesty
sa5 sxrqtness over and through us, as they hurry
mast on their unseen mission. At times, q storm
anthem, played upon the thunder-keys of Heaven,
thrills the very Earth TO a shudder of awe. At
times with the low, tender, minor chant of the
turtle-dove from the wood, blends in a song-whis-
per Of Rolian sweetness, breathed by the zephyr
angel to the young leaves of the trees
But few human voices had lent their music to
swell this symphony of Nature-if we may except
that of the merry Yankee boy, who whistles
yankee Doodlen to the handles of his plough
when one evening in autumn the settlement was
al h, ~ nj fhat OTIS NOR nf
distinguished reputation as a singing master
desired to establish a singing school among us.
There was quite division of opinions on the
propriety of this measure. Old Farmer Curtis
argued that cit was a money catch, and no use in
life the singn' O. Sundays was smart enough
and what more would folks be after2 He would
take up with no new-fangled notions"
Many sided with the old farmer-one strength
eniug his position by the report that the new
master sang edo re mi" &C., instead of the good
Od.fashioned I" ia sol la" in endless repetition
And, then, che wrote music on black board
What on earth had black board and chalk to dc
with singing"
But the majority of the little community, being
better enlightened upon the important subject In
question, saw that the opportunity was too valua-
bic to be thrown rashly away. There was scarce
ly young person in the scantily filled semi
circle dignifed by the title of " choir" and but
one Of the stanch old singers who sustained the
Sabbath music Of the humble sanctuary could
read musical notes with any degree Of readiness
So they were confined within narrowing hedge
of old standard tunes, good enough in themselves,
but too often sadly mangled by means of treach-
erous memories, false ears, and untutored voices.
Near, Old Hundred, and Ward, had lost their
dignity by too great familiarity with rough vol
ces, and several lesser tunes seemed in fair way
to share their fate.
Here are our young people" said the singing
schoolites, growing up without a tune on their
tongues! What will become Of the singing seat )
when the old folks shall have died off or remov-
ed awsy7D
Their arguments and their purses carried the
day and in due season, with due respect and for
aduerecompense of reward, Mr. Sonorus Disney
was invited to pitch his tent for time among us,
and pitch our juvenile voices into harmony with
his tuning fork
ms Nning-fork, or pitch-pipe, as he indis-
crimlnately termed it, was his chief wand Of
power He had violin, indeed, whose bow he
could flourish scientifically on state occasions, but
the magical "tuner" was his main dependence.
lie would hold the entire circle H open-mouthed
gllerS breathlessly listening to it's mysterious
ring, as he raped it upon the pine table before
MIN, upon the tough knuckles Of his left hand, or
less frequently upon his Whitley glittering front
teeth. Then the ascent or descent from that
plalntive, mOurnfully humming echo of +" La-s-s,"
TO the tonic" where Do-o-on rounded out un-
erringly from the full-orbed circle of his lips-t
was an unexplained mystery To the greater Dor.
ton Of his wondering disciples.
The first evening agreeably to appointment, a
motley assembly convened in "the old school.
house" that would have moved the finger lends Of
Hogarth to caricaturing, If Hogarth could have
looked upon it.
1t had been tacitly understood, by the juniors
Of our community, that they we're to have the ex.
elusive benefit Of the guineas their fathers should
pour into Mr. Disney's pocket, and the thrilling
notes which he should pour forth in return. Blu,
'ne elders had made no such silent stipulation.
aDd Haa no idea Of being denied the direct re-
"a'u OF Their perseverance and expenditure.
mere 'hey sat-papas and mammas in all-fasb-
,O"ea costumes, with grsndmamma or kind
.1Oea aonty sprinkled in for variety - all with
~', comically anxious countenances, now fixed
'ne h-string Of the door, In aurrisd expect
'Ou' now gancing, in sort of apologize timid.
u.s. over the rather boisterous ranks of youth be-
'Du and among them; again awkwardly pucker-
,u'0 a sort Of baffed smile, as they joked one
'ne' In loud whispers upon their unexpected
~''''ng In the place Of innovation.
que drew himself up with dignity, and fun
~'u the dogs ears" of an old psalm-book ian
~ ,"'ioom from his great-aung with business.
"r' Another adjusted his spectacles, and
rY,,u intently over the Boston Academys Col
as II he expected to imbibe sweet sounds
''sh Ills dim organs Of vision while the great
part nestled in their seats, or trotted their feet
p'''ently, and wished that athe master would
hoise!p 's
IL. nc noise, " indeed was on the cyescendo among
W.. Juniors, who very well understood that they
o.. rougnt together to exercise their vocal or.
m,., anu were disposed to give them little pre-
in pay They had established themselves
as. O,aer OF taste and inclination. A cluster
t.r NV looking faces glowered from IN
vb.n.s caps or brimless hats in the background
tim. issued shouts Of laughter, shrill whis
or.e.,. DC Nearer to the front Of the would-bs
cbans" were congregated little groups of lively
III, In Iaa 'aushers, who seldom met except by
eeGrch door ON Snndaxa and TN. 49, -