The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-15
HISTORY OF DO-RE-MI.
The Development Of the
Tonic Art.
CHATS ABOUT BOOKS.
Uncle john" :lIours in a Library" Caleb
Krinkle," THE Fair Puritan
Hope Meredith"


nam's Sons.
Never have we more painfully realized our own
want OF thorough scientific knowledge OF so in
rerestng theme as music, the science OF
sounds, tnan IN reading and trying, IN the way
uf criticism, to give to others clear idea or this
charming little volume-charming, we doubt not, in
the original, and SO dellcously translated that the
peculiar grace OF that original SHINES through the
translation. This, 70 our mind, is better mode
Of rendering book In a foreig n language than one
more iaiomatic. Graceful, scientific books and
essays abound in France far more Than tney ever
have done in England or English speaking COM
munities, and we nave TO thank Mrs. Flint, we
repeat, for the graceful dexterity with which she
has translused, without losing drop DR.. Chomers
unpretendng essay. IL is, IN other respects, by
no means an easy book TO review. 1t Is too con-
tlnuous ana compact 10 admit OF extracts. and TO
attempt 70 make them Is like taking precious
. one out OF q crcet-it does not shine so brightly
as with It's companions, and 1t leaves an unplea-
void 10 look upon. Stil we shall try in order
to tempt our readers begin modest but pro-
found little volume, which, once begun, VIII not
be willingly laid ASIDE.
IL begins with history OF music. vocal and in
strumental. and ends with an exposiuion-the least
satisfactory part OF the bookof the authors SAM
tary MODE OF applying It. The central idea, now
ever, Is the new theory OF the transmission OF
sounds, when We shall endeavor, In our unsclen-
tlhc way, describe, anu OF which the fair trans
lator III the preface says:-
Hts theory OF sound is not only original but very
interesting. Though We nave always oeen aware
tnat oae individual Is endowed with keener
sensitiveness 70 music or sound OF any kind, tnan
another, aud MAT different substances possess
more or less resonance We nave certainly not
regarded persons and things as imoued with q
musical or souorous 1uid.
II the extreme novelty OF many OF the authors
views sometimes startles US, and excltes merri.
menr, not rldlcule would IL not De we'll TO reflect
rnat many Of the greatest scientists ana inven
have met With only sneers and ueislon from their
contemporaries?
The line Of the Introductory historical comment
may be easily traced. 1t begins with chapter on
the tone OF tue human voice and OF music IN Its
simplest oral expression. OF that voice he well
says
Plato, who passed his whole lie in study. in.
YES tgation aud teaching, mad the habit, we are
told, o. making any man whom 1t was his interest
~ KLow well, read or talk with him IN loud
voice. The quality oil the voice. the intonaLlons,
the infections OF tne SPEAKER or reader. were TO
the philosopher SO many indications, not CERTAIN
at least proDaoIe ones, OF has moral character.
And. in our own time, Gretry. 10 mis- Essays on
IN the opinion ne has formed OF individuals who
had salo nothing more TO MIN than Good day,
ar" or 'Lood morning. my MEND" According
10 the intonatlon with which these words were
spoken the great MUSICIAN assumed to guess with
whom ne mad 10 DEAL anu regulated MS conduct
Ia accordance WITH the impression he had thereby
received.
"A GOOD morning is almost always SUFFICIENT to
enable me.n SAID he, "to appreciate ID general
the pretensIon the simplicity OF man. In
converse ION nan often hides his real cnar acter
from US, ether through pontenesS or dupllclty
out he mas not quite learned how 10 disguise the
Intonatons OF ms voice. ms Good oay. SIR ,
and Good morning, my frleuu,' put 10 music
with their exact lntonations wOuld show what
power vanity Is, and now quickly the Key
changes hen It's innuence ceases TO be the ruling
opeU
One need not be Plato or Gretry, indeed, to
form some estimate Oh an individual Dy the into
N nm oil I'm IN
present age OF We, satlllty ana prejudice, oil hu-
mllty ana arrogance Oh Smbitlon aud se!vIlty, o.
seiI-depreclatIon ana vanity, oil lmpudence and
modesty, OF timidiiy ana poldness, that Good
day, sir,n or GOOD morning. my frlen0," may
enable us 10 iatnom tue very soul OF MIN who
ltters It. IL Is the quality Of tone that makes
the music, according To an old saying, and sir"
''my lrieDd," eyes, mo-" spoken in certain
manner, often express more TO US than q hundred
words
This may be one or the specimens OF extreme
theorizing, at which Mrs. Flint lears the mocking
world may incline To make Itself merry; but
surely every mans and every woman's experience
attests It's truth. John Wilkes, ugly as he was,
had sweet. winning voice-with what result
everybody knows. IL Calibsn had whIspered gently,
and VI Ferdinand had had rough voice, Prospero
might have had a different son.in-law; and 1t was
our Cordella's low, sweet voice. "an excellent
thing in woman" that Lear especially incurred
wuen he held a dead daughter III mis- arms. Regain
and Coperil must nave been loud.spoken, as they
certainly were strong-mlnded women. We accept
Or. Chomet's theory TO the ul extent AS to ma
tloual music expression OF character, the Doctor
INDUCES In nings not at all unjust, worthy oil
Tame. witness tnis passage:-
The Italians said Gretry, "breathe forta their
melodies with sigh because they ieel TOO Seenly
the Germans sign lor tue voiuptnous sensations
LOT which they long,
The Englisnman sings as he lives; he ls posi-
tive, stubborn and formal His melodies are as
poetical as coin OF hundred sous, passionate
and exciting as his steam engines. cheerful as his
own dark, leaden SKY. clear and flowing as the
waters OF the Thames. en- ne sings not a
smile ever graces his lips, lot the slightest con-
traction dlsuros the Gxedness OF his countenance,
not even a spark o. entn usiasm accalerAtes the
beating OF his neart.
OF Oriental music he says
The Exposition Of lso7-that immense caravan.
sary where all nations elbowed each other, that
vast cdphdrHOuDt where he most diverse objects
were crowded together pell meli-has Afforded
Us samples OF the music VI many nations. 10
our ears the Chinese music, although executed
by Partisan artists, seemed nothing out barDarous
dlscord.
Toe Arabian music, harsh and nasal made our
very nesh creep.
VINO that has ever heard Chinese instrumental
music, for vocal they have none QaDcy. reader,
100000. 900 witnout tune or lullaby D. Will ever
iorget 1t. II IL very IKE tue oagpipe, but none the
better for tnat and 1t is matter oil surprise TO
that among the many traces OF identity between
our Western nomads and the aongolians this
utter want OF musical capacity, common to both,
has not been attended TO.
The sketch oil ancient music Ia very interesting,
but ws have not TO refer to II IN detail with
The rise OF the chi istian Church rose true music,
and 81. Ambrose and 81. Gregory were Its earliest
patrons. IL was with the idea OF uniting ali
Christian nations Wy one language oil harmony
that toe Gregorian chant was invented, and who
knows Dul that 1t may reunite them vets The In
veptlon OF the scale is thus described -
Guido, q BenedtcGine monk. born at Arezzo ac-
eording to the opin.oa Of most historians, should
lave tie crtdit OF orst nuoin9 way 10 supply
tA!s leng.clt need about a. ". i022. This was MS
manner OF proceeding He TOOK tue nfst syIaoles
vi tue hymn OF st. John the Baptist. and assign ed
special and determined character 10 each. Ials
b. nn was composed rs loows:-
''Etr queant laxls
Rescuare nDrls
Mia gestorum
tamull tuorum
solve poluu