Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-06-29
Chinese Music.

Chinese Masic.
The musical scale Of the Chinese con-
sists of only five notes, instead of seven,
and their music is not written on five lines
like ours, but in perpendicular columns,
like the characters in their books. The
elevation or depression of tones is indi-
Gated by distinctive names. They have no
semi tones, and hence arises tedious mo-
notony of sound There is said to be
and the ancient Scottish airs. If this be
so, Scottish music ia the days of Ossian
must have been much ruder than has ever
yet been represented, for of all the unearth-
ly sounds, Chinese singing is the most uu-
earthly. There is no noise like it. Those
who have attended genuine Chinese the
atrieal performance have had specRsen9f
how much the men acquit themselves iR
song, but Chinese music can only be heard
to perfection by strolling through the mar
row streets of Chinese town. Men, wo-
men and children all strain their voice TO
the utmost pitch and give out sort of
double fortified squeaking falsetto. The
singers are usually accompanied by the vi
ola, and sometimes by the pig skin drum
likewise. Ones tympanum throbs and
thrums as though dozen fairies were beat
ing upon it. Yet the Chinese have their
Jenny Linds, Crisis and Sontagas, their
Labiaehes and Tambourinis. They have
their infant phenomena too, who if they
keep their lungs whole until arriving ma
ture age, certainly deserve that name. You
are frequently called upon to admire what
in another place than Chinese town, you
would suppose to be an imitation of the
piteens complaints of pig jammed under
gate, being all the time in state of ner-
vous excitement lest the warbler should
break blood vessel.
Unlike our private singers at home the
Chinese need no pressing to favor COM
pany with a song. On the contrary the
performances are generally voluntary, and
the performers never give the excuse of a
cough or cold. In truth slight cold is
rather an improvement upon their style.
The willingness with which they entertain
you in this respect is only equalled by the
evident vanity of the singers and the ex-
ulting pride of the bystanders of celestial
origin. @That is booty?" one will ask,
and others, How you likee dat ? T" What
YOU tinkee dat?" " Merican side can sing
so booty?" To all which it must be your
invariable rule to give the expected an
swers or you will Immediately be involved
in discussion in their horrible lingo, called
pidgeon English, of which you are sure to
have the worst for there are too many
against you.
So long as a Chinese sOngstress can
keep herself surrounded by listeners she
will sing, and believe really that singing
in Chinese town, like the reveille and tat
too of Great Britain around the world
never ceases. The faxorite hour is just at
the close Of twilight. When all else is still
and silence would reign with darkness,
howls and squeals begin TO Goat upon the
air-at first low and indistinct but soon
loud and piercing. Almost every other door
step is thronged with noisy musicians (youl
pardon Euterpe,) and their eager and ad'
miring listeners. Fom windows and case
ments come the tones of more delicate anC
retired singers beautifying select party
within. Every group has at least one in
fant phenomenon, the gentle cadence O.
whose voice is occasionally heard followed
by exclamations of astonishment and de-
light, repeated perhaps for the hundredti
time. Be the theme of any song plaintive
or gay the tune seems TO be much the same
and at times hideous chorus will startlc
you into the belief that iends are let loost
upon the earth. .-Knickerbocker.