Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-03-31
For the UFbana Union. ..---rr-.-
.-.... MUSIC. .-.---

Music is divided into three distinct
branches, Melody, tune or pitch; Rhythm,
OF length Of notes; and Dynan1ics or the
power Of fnotes. These three grand prin-
ciples cannot be separated; for music
consists in their united perfection.
We will first consider time, the most
difficult Of the three, in which few are
rive at perfection. Time is tune. and
the corner stone of music, slflIourb
many who claim some merit as musici-
ans pay but little attention to IL. and
beginners, as soon as they have learned
a piece tOlerably well, frequentIyplavs if
or play at it, as fast as they. can, regard
less Of the directions of the author. or.
If song, Of the quality Of the words,
and thus destroy the character offbd
music and put in its place-frregular ana
unmeaning effects. In playing gflle sv1-
phony OF song, be it ever so pathetic It
is hurried over in a strain totally Unlike
the song, and between every verse, this
jumble is introduced, doing away entirez
ly with the object Of the introduction
and interludes. I have frequently heard
this in social circles. Says CfuinUdI a
celebrated French composer, 'Tfa a sing
er executes a piece of music Otherwsd
than as the composer has written it, -is
this anything but defamation and a
SANDER" A great many of those who
play and sing, have little knowledge OF
time, and think it all sufficient 10 DIRV
the notes forgetting or ignoring time
resta, or dots. The choral music of The
great masters can never be PERFORMED
amongst us while this is the case. Tinlg
must be acknowledged as the corner
stone Of this science. Separate it FROM
sounds and you thus destroy the soul Of
music. Leaders of music are generally
those who have accurate knowledge and
great irmness in this respect, and so be-
come director Of large bodies Of musief-
ans, or leaders. of orchestras, OrOf bands
Of vocal performers. Sir. George Smart
was famous in this branch Of music, and
was often. engaged to direct great per
formances. a- ee. E
How perfect must that leader have
been who directed such an array of per
formers as that at Sydenham last June,
Of which I have spoken else, where there
were three thousand singers and one
thousand instruments, and very large
organ, and many of the pieces were fu-
gues viz in broken time with a greater'o
less number Of bars to rest, and then to.
come in with accuracy in time and tone.
Time must be studied and practieed
alone, so that there is a firm steady beat
in the mind, though the general way is
TO learn It while playing and then pupils
count to their playing, while they should
play to their counting. The good old
tune, cold Hundred" F." is spoiled in the
performance by being sung too slow, to
say nothing of the variations" To
change the time of a tune changes the
tune, for have often played Yankee
Doodle very slowly to a room full Of
those who heard it all their lives and not
one would recognize it Take any other
lively tune and play it correctly, except
making the movement slow, and the
same effect is produced.
Hunten says: "The metrical division,
afforded by the bar is the soul of music.
without this advantage, its highest
charms, whether conferred by nature or
derived from art, would be absolutely
useless. This part of execution should
be scTupulously observed, though, most
pianists are accused, and too often with
reason, Of being deficient in this particu-
lar, A due attention to time sustains
the pianist iu difficult passages, strength
ems the fingers in a remarkable degpae
and gives alone the assurance necessary
for a successful execution"
Dynamies, OF loud and soft isalso verv
"Noise is not music, andft
requires knowledge, as well as good
taste to know when it increases or les.
sons the sound. A lady and gentleman
were conversing at a social party, when
a piano performance was going on. The
player was beating the instrument with
sn his might. Said the gentleman, to
the lady. ooh! how grand; it is sub
blime it is wonderful" Said the lady
Il You have forgotten one thing, it is
1Oise!n
Soon, another perfOrmerpiayeda piece
in gentle flowing style, giving expression
10 the authors meaning. The lady said
'is not thatmusic? ?" Many young play
BIS in order to make more noise, Keep
iown the loud pedal throughout their
and rattle away, producing
Ueh a combination of liscord, as to be
ruly painful to the ear of Il musician.
THE AsTOR LIBRARY.