The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-02-27
IMPORTANT TO MUSICIANS.
Bassos. ContraItos, Gopranos.
New York Times

BassOs. COntraItOs, HOpranOs.
New York Tiaesl
One Of our leading scientific periodicals
sust issued contains the portrait OF beauti-
full young lady who has been fitted by
GLASGOW surgeon with a metallic larynx. 1t
appears that the surgeon was compelled to
extirpate her original larynx, thus rendering
her unable TO produce sound. Her lungs
were all right, and her lips and other appa-
rasus for articulation were in order, but
without larynx she was like an organ
without pipes. As she was unmarried, it
was thought that no immediate harm could
be done by an effort to restore her voice.
The surgeon therefore fitted her Tindpipe
with combination Of silver pipes designed
to take the place of the missing larynx. In
stead of proving TO be at best merely toler-
able make shift, the artificial larynx was soon
found to be the most valuable improvement
that has ever been made upon the human
girl. Girls can hencefOrth equip themselves
with any sort of voice, from the deepest bass
to the highest soprano, and mere natural
voices like those of Nilsson and Patti will be
totally eclipsed by voices manufactured by
skillful makers of brass instruments. Not
only any kind, but also any quality, of voice
can be secured by slight notifications OF the
artificial laTynx. If the tubes of the Glasgow
girl are made of an alloy of silver and brass,
rich, sonorous tone is obtained, and by
fitting her tubes with the appropriate reeds
she can be converted into clarionet, bas-
soon or a melodeon. Furthermore, she can
change her key at will by the use of
crooks, and, in short, can represent almost
every variety of wind instrument, whether
brass or reed.
The importance OF this astonishing inven-
ton will be apparent to any musician. At
present no person, whether male or female.
has more than one kind of voice. A bass
singer can not sing contralto songs. nor can
sir rif ha
aid of the Glasgow surgeons pipes, one per-
son can sing any song that is within the
compass of any voice Of any instrument.
Thus, prima donna will be able to take
any part, and we shall hear the same lady
sing the part of Zsrlina one night, and that
of LeporellO the next. There will no longer
be any excuse for poor voices operate man
ayers will be able to supply every singer
whom they may employ, from the pr;ma
donna to the Oldest chorus singer, with the
best quality of voice at a comparatively low
price; and when We read at the foot of the
programme that every larynx used at this
establishment is from the celebrated manu-
factory of Smith & Co." we can be sure that
the interest of the manufacturers will COM
pei them to supply none but the very best
voices.
At present as everybody knows the hu-
man girl stands on the key of c, to use a
technical expression. Few brass instru-
meDts stani in that key. We have comets
in Il flat and in fat, horns in fiat, and
all SORTS of instruments in all sorts of keys
An instrument on one key can often be
changed into another key by the use of
crook" but hitherto this device has not
been applicable to a girl. Now, however
we can nave girls in any key. The Glasgow
girl, by simply fitting b fiat crook to her
larynx, can sing in unison with b fiat cor.
net; and by changing her tubes and using
the appropriate crook can transform herself
into tenor cor. Thus, any man who has
an intelligent girl has the entire family of
brass instruments at his command. More
over, he does not need to play on the girl
himself, since she can play automatically
If he wishes to hear a cornet solo, ne has
merely TO ask her to get her cornet tube; or
If he thinks that the ophecleide will soothe
him with its deep tones. he has only to
mention his wishes. With an intelligent
and willing girl and proper supply of tubes
and crooks, he can keep all varieties of wind
instruments on tap, as it were, and can rem
der himself entirely independent of band
masters and concert managers.
There is one improve ment which the
Glasgow surgeon should promptly make.
He should fit the girl, upon whom he has
been experimenting with the best pattern of
rotary valves. The manufacture of val yes
has now been brought to such perfection
that valve horns and valve trombones will
entirely supercede the old fashioned French
MORN WIN us stopper NOTES, ana the orig
inal sliding valve trombone. 1t would be
manifestly inconvenient to convert q girl
into an old fashioned trombone, since her
long, heavy slide would be greatly in her
way, and it would be very ungraceful for her
when converted into French horn to pro-
duee her stopped" note by thrusting her
hand into her mouth. If, however, she was
fitted with valves she could play upon herself
with ease, and if the tops of her pistons we're
to be set with diamonds or otherwise orna.
mented, they would render necklaces unnec-
essary. This is all that is needed to bring
the Scotch surgeons invention 10 perfection.
Let every girl be fitted with plstons and
rotary valves and there will be no room for
further improvement
There is only one point in connection
with this magnificent invention upon which
we should like to be treasured. Ii is gener-
ally conceded that the tone OF brass in
strument is injured il the instrument is
frequently polished. Does this rule apply
to a girl fitted with metallic larnyx7 Will
her tone be injured if any effort is made to
keep her complexion bright. and must she
content herself with the occasional gentle
application of chamOis leather? Not even
for the sake of preserving their purity OF
tone can we consent TO have the surface OF
our girls grow dull aud oxidlzed and It is 10
be hoped that the Glasgow surgeon has
already found a way out of this difficulty.
A Poets Worries
The poet LoDgfellow. although NATURALLY