Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-10-31
Jenny Lind on vocal Mu.ic, =

Dwights Journal Of Music, published at Boston
in which we always find sound views ON every
branch of art that 1t touches, contains an article
one vocal music, as taught in modern times, in
which It introduces nm extract from letter on
the subject written by Madame Jenny Lind Cole
schmidt. We copy the letter. with the editors
introductory and concluding remarks.
The following are extracts from private letter.
which wc have bad for three years in our possee,
sion, and which we have hitherto refrained ma.
king public out Of regard to the feelings Of the
writer who, at that time professionally before n q
world, naturally wished TO avoid ali chances Of
exposing herself to misunderstanding and up-
pleasant feeling on the part Of amateurs and ar
lists OF o school different from her own But
we are sure that no such ground for silence en.
ists, and at all events, The good that must bs
done by such most timely words fiom such a
source, is enough to plead here In extenuaiion
Of possible. breaking Of the seal of confidence.
We rsk the sim for IL ia Of the letter only not the
spirit The remarks were written, Mt our own sut,
gestlon, In fuller explanation Of advice given 10
talented young vocalist, who won't TO Europe
for Improvement In her art We copy, word for
WORD, from her own autograph, which, as a pis CO
OF clear, vigorous, and not ungrncc!iil English
composition, Is credtable TO woman Of fine In.
telect. -
~" IL might he permitted to offer suggestion
in.regard to Miss -, II would be recommend.
alton TO her not to 20 to Italy az she had been ad
yiscd by somc friends TO do. My humble opirion
ls, that the recently-adoptcd method Of italian
singing Is not rie most natural and healthy. The
proof thereof h, TINT we see only few singers In
our days that know how to preserve their voice
having once been In Italy, and there acquired the
habit OF forcing more sound out Of their lungs
than nature intended they should.
l never went to Italy myself from that very
reason. After having heard all tho modern Itai-
Ian singers was well convinced that my voice
never would have beon able 10 preserve ts natu-
raj elasticity and s character Of high soprano had
undertaken 10 adopt the same forced style OF
Staging as Ia nowadays almost unavoidable IN
Italy, by the frequent performance Of signor Yer.
dis operas His music is the most
dangerous for all singing artsts and will continue
TO be until the artists themselves viii better IN.
derstand their interests, as well as that of the
beauty OF the art Of singing, and refuse to sacrifice
themselves 70 a composer, who by no means un.
derstands the exquisite beauty Of the real Italian
singing, that cannot be surpassed by any other
nation. Miss - win find, both In London and
in Paris, masters fully qualified 10 instruct her IN
all that s deemed requisite and in the former city
now lives the most distinguished singing master,
Mr.. Emanuel Garcia, who is, in my opinion, emi.
neptly qualified to understand and TO devolope her
voice and talent.
"A years residence In London or Paris Win ena.
bleher Judge Of the progress which she has made,
and also the propricty Of afterward spending six
months or one year In Germany, the land Of real
music, in which the true artists can only acquire
the genuine stamp Of art. Germany offers perhaps
less excellence for the singer as a singer, for the
German language Is very hard to pronounce, and
often changes the character Of the sound for In.
stance, the quality Of tone in singing out the Ita
Ian word Doore, and the idenfic German word
Schmerz will be found quite different Ia its result
and infinitely In favor Of the former But--to wish
10 become good artist with good artistical con-
science, and not know Germany and its Musical
masters would indeed, be as great loss TO the
artist as II would TO the public, before whom he
ought 10 wish TO give a right impression.
~ know what Germany Is to an artist, and,
with all my veneration for the true Italian singing
school, really believe that. unless had taken the
German music ss the groundwork, my whole
knowledge Of Italian singing would have never
satisfied me, and my musical faculties would have
been undeveloped and unfruitful.
"What / therefore wish most earnestly 10 ira-
press upon Misa -------'s mind IL that she would
try 10 combine Italian song and German music, the
one being as necessary az the other; that she
would try TO avoid false psthos, as the same law
exists, 70 its fullest extent In art as in lde--thst
she be true to herself try find out tho beauty Of
truth, an well in the simplest song as In the most
difficult aria--and the great secret will be here
the most powerful protector against envy and NAL
lee win be on her slde.'
These are words to be pondered. They are NOT
one sided they are not unkind or prejudiced. OBJ
serve the writer fully admits the paramount claims
Of the true Italian school, but doubts II the Italy