Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-20

LIE MUSICAL CoNGREss.-The first hour Of
the afternoon session of the second day, wal
devoted to lecture on the way to improve
the quality of the voice, by Prof Woodbury.
series OF exercises in monotones, such as pro
nouncing in succession each letter of the al
phabet at one breath and in one tone then
going through the same on the next higher
note, and so on through the gamut. 1t was
recommended to those who wished to develope
their voices, that these exercises should be
practised each day, from half an hour to six
hours, according as they wished to strengthen
their voices.
was very hard to acquire. Few amateurs
could go through with the different swellings
of the diatonic scale correctly. When this
power was acquired, one was almost perfect
singer. The best way to acquire this power
was frequently to hear the best singers with a
special view to this department Such is the
power of imitation, that with good ear any
one can greatly improve their voice by imi-
tating good singers. 1t is often an exercise
OF great improvement to 60 to a concert or an
opera to hear and afterward initiate the man.
ner In which some favorite song is performed.
In obtaining this power Of voice, good model
is a necessity. If the teacher has not a good
voice in this respect; if his scholars have
confidence in him, they will be sure to catch
and adopt this defect To illustrate this point
several anecdotes were related by the lecturer.
He urged all, as they valued a sweet and
pure tone, to hear good singing as much as
possible; and while they would avoid any
thing like an imitation of the manner of pro-
duoing the good tone, to initiate that tone.
The different qualities of voice was now re-
counted, and the points constituting the chest,
the medium, the head, the feigned and the
falsetto voices pointed out, and illustrations
given. The best manner of producing these
tones; the way to avoid impure tones, and
the best manner Of strengthening the voice
IN improving its tone was demonstrated
The lecture closed with two songs, illustrative
of the principles pointed out in the lecture by
Professor Woodbury.. The last "Largo Fac
totem" from the Opera of the BARBER of
Seville, was loudly applauded.
The rest of the time was devoted to the prac-
and to the practice of glee singing, under the
direction of Professors Woodbury. and Cook.
EVENING SESSION.
The audience was so large, the hall being
full, that great inconvenience was expe-
rienced in finding books and room for the del
egates and immediate members Of the Con-
gress As it was, the exercises were limited
to the practice of pieces that had been sung
before. But few new pieces were attempted,
from the difficulties of the attending circum-
stances.
After the frst hour, and during the inter
mission, Professor Cook, of New York, gave
which was loudly encored, and when repeated
the applause was continued still more loudly
than before.
The second hour of the session was devoted
to glee singing, during which time an old Eng.
llsh laughing glee, great favorite in the
club house of England, was sung in full cho-
rus. This was encored loudly, also. We un-
derstand that it will be given at Concert, by
request. At 10 o'clock the Congress ad-
journed.
The session this morning was opened by an
announcement, on the part of the President,
that the lecture of Prof. Lord, announced in
the papers to come off on Thursday night, had
been postponed to give place to the concert of
the Musical Congress.
The President announced the appointment
of the committee on drafting the constitution
Rev. S. P. Hill, of Washington, chairman !;
A. B. johnson, Mass 6. w. Merriam, Conn
W. H. Chace, N. Y; G. C. Sherwood, N Y;
J., II: Daniel, Washington; Thos. McGill,
Washington.
On motion, committee on resolutions was
Chace, of n Y, chairman; w. II. Lacey.
N. Y; I. l.. Potter, Washington.
Professor Woodbury. then delivered lee
ture on the proper performance of church
music. The sextuple measure had been found
very useful in this department Many OBJ
jected to it, as it was the measure often used
in dancing tunes. But the objection did not
obtain, as the most 81 lemn passages in some of
the best masses and oratorios were written in
that measure. When this time was used, it
was susceptible of great variety of perform
ance, which was often necessary when the
hymn to be sung contained five, six, or eight
verses: Some clergymen were wont to forget
the labor OF singing so many verses consecu-
lively; but when 80 many verses are given
out, 1t is best to vary the movement as much
as the sentiment will allow, when it will be
less laborious to the choir, and less monoton-
Gus to the congregation.
Recitative passages were now taken up
Such music was recommended as excellent
practice for those wishing to excell ANY one
who could render such passages correctly and
with the proper expression was already good
singer.
The rest Of the morning was spent in prac.
tice in church music, in accordance with the
rules given in the lecture.
During the morning several delegates from
the East arrived, among them one Of the pro-
fessional singers from New York
You've MINIS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. Am
meeting of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association was held on Monday evening
at their Rooms, o. c. Wight, Esq, in the
chair, Charles Holmead secretary.
Reports of the various operations of the
were read. One from Mitchell H.
Miller, in reference to the asylum or aims
house was particularly interesting. It ap-
pears that there is not the least provision for
religious instruction to the inmates. Bibles,
tracts and books have been distributed there
and the hope is entertained that the City
Councils will make such an arrangement of
the rooms that religious service can be held
at least every Sabbath. While we are doing
all we can for the heather, it is time our at.
tention was called to these neglected unfortu-
mates In our very midst. The committee will
continue their labors this year.
Mr. Rhees, from the committee on periodi-
Gals, stated that the reading room was much
the best in the city, and that daily and weekly
papers were now received from every import
ant city in the Union. Several new foreign
journals had been added.