The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-08-19
Friday Morning, Aug. 10, 1864.
Hints to Lady Amateurs.
HOW TO PLAY AND SING.


1t may safely be asserted that the music
performed by musical amateurs affords more
pleasure TO the performers themselves than to
any body else. Added to this, not more than
one out of every ten persons to be met with
In society really cares for or enjoys music
This Is the reason why, when a lady is at the
piano, most of her listeners" talk and chat
ter and the others feel bored. 1t is hard for
the performer who has practiced for weeks
over brilliant fantasia to observe how utter
ly inappreciated her efforts are; but musical
amateurs-at least In large cities-must learn
this fact, that however neatly they play or
sing, the majority of their hearers have heard
the same music done much better by profes.
sional performers; and that ordinary palor
music is not enjoyed, but is only endured as a
conventional and unavoidable accomplish
ment. Hogarth, the well-known musical crit
ic, somewhere gives the following as his OBJ
servations on the matter:
MISS SMITH FAvoRs THE COMPANY WITH
MUSIC.
A lady in drawing-room, who sits down
TO entertain company with a 'scena" from
some fashionable pianist, ought TO remember
that probably everybody in the room has
heard the same piece sung by Grisi or Jenny
Lind, or played by Thalberg or Quicken, and
that she is exposing herself TO an unpleasant
comparison by attempting lamely and imper-
fectly what the company have heard executed
with finished excellence; and this will be the
case, even though she may be, for an amateur,
really superior performer. But the truth is,
that not one lady amateur in a thousand who
makes such ambitious attempts can acquit
herself even decently. Ii she sings, it is a
thousand to one that she strains and forces
her voice out OF all tone and tune, and trans
forms the brilliant roulades of The composer
into lnarticulate screams; aud If she plays,
that she produces mere clatter of unmean-
ing noise and confusion. And these enormi-
ties are committed by persons who, coniinng
themselves within the limits OF their own
powers aud attachments, might really dis
course most eloquent music, and CRAFTY the
ears as well as touch the feelings of their lis
teners. 1t is great mistake to suppose that
the best music il the most difficult of execu-
tion. The very reverse, generally speaking,
In the case. Music of high order certainly
demands high gifts and attainments on the
part OF the performer. But the gifts OF ma
ture may be possessed by the amateur as well
as by the professor, and the attainment of art
may be the result of moderate study and ap-
plication. A young lady possessed Of a sweet
and tunable voice, good ear, intelligence and
feeling, may cultivate music in its grandest
and most beautiful forms, and may render its
practice a source OF the purest enjoyment, not
only TO herself but to her domestic and soci-
al circle.
Many ladies do this, but they have not been
fashionably educated. Sense and reason, not
the prevailing example, have been consulted
In their studies, and the result has made them
really accomplished musicians. In order TO
become so, every natural gift must be cult
waited by solid instruction. The principles OF
the art must be well understood. The rules
OF harmony and composition must be studied
so far as to enable the pupil, if not TO COM
pose, TO comprehend the design OF the COM
poser, and the technical means whereby he
produces his effect.
THE EDUCATED MUSICIAN.
The voice must be strengthened and purin-
ed, ungainly habits must be removed, and dis
tinct utterance and elocution acquired. The
mind must be opened, and the taste exalted
and refined by acquaintance with the finest
productions of the art-an acquaintance which
ought to extend from the "Oratorio" of Han
del to the national ballad. With the young
pianist similar course should be pursued.
A correct method OF lingering, ana the famili-
must be impaired at the outset; and this will
give a command OF the instrument quite
sufficient for every purpose of an amateur
performer.
A lady so educated is far Above making
music the means of frivolous display. She
never commits the folly of endeayoring to rival
professional artist in the achievement of tours
de force, and thus exciting ridicule instead Of
admiration, and causing WEAKNESS instead OF
r1laacura Sha aalanfs har fra,
branch OF the art, chosing what she knows TO
be suitable to her powers, and what taste tells
her Is intrinsically good and beautiful. In such
music she may feel without vanity land hear
ers may feel so tool that she subjects herself
TO no disparaging and a well ground
ed but modest confidence will enable her to
do justice to her own talents. Such singer
will be at no loss for resources. She will fnd
them in the work of every school in Europe,
not excepting even (when discreetly chosen)
the gems Of the modern Italian and German
stage She will be able to give power to the
inspired strain of Handel, grace the charming
melodies of Mozart, and truth and pathos to the
simplest efusion Of the rustic muse OF Ireland
or Scotland.
We are not TO suppose, however, that music
Ike reading and writing, "comes by nature" )"
Nature supplies the requisite gifts; and when
these are wanting 1t is best not TO attempt the
pursuit. What can be more absurd and more
pitiable than to see an unfortunate victim oi
fashion condemned to scream and thump the
keys Of piano for several hours daily, with
out voice, ear, inclination or the slightest hope
OF success, while some fine talent that she
really possesses is left wholly neglected +?
When the natural gifts do exist, it requires
careful and judicious cultivation TO render
them productive of fruit In this fastdious
age, even the simplest music demands pure
style and nice execution; and the presence or
absence OF these viii be apparent even in the
performance OF ballard or waltz. But, SO
much being necessary, it is the more esse,itial
that the youthful pupil should be spared wha,
is not necessary; and 1t is anything but neces.
sary to lead her to seek the gratiacation oI
vanity-and to find nothing but disappnoint.
meat and mortiflcation-by emulatinr the
mechanical achievements of professional ar.
fists.