The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-01-23

/, TOCAL CULTURE
We are Indebted to Mrs. Il. Everest. o,
philadelphia, who thoroughly knows whereof
she speaks and who is an exceptionally skilk
full sud accomplished vocal trainer, for the fol.
lowing admirable observations on the subject
Of
VOCAL CULTURE.
While 1t has long since been acknowledged
that no instruments ever invented has been
able to produce the same effect as the hui man
vcicc and while vocal music has long been
regarded as one Of the most fascinating ac-
ccmplisiiments, We are yst IN our infancy in
regard to capahility and adaptation when per-
fectly taught. 1t Is now well-knewn fact
that many men Of great attachments in liter
ature and science are either wholly or par
TALLY disabled by vocal inability, and sing
ers cften lose their voice and are compelled 10
retire just at the time when they seemed to
have reached the zenith Of their popularity
It has new been discovered that such results
are the effect Of false teaching rather than q
wearing out or exhaustion Of the natural
power--fcr whef the vocal machinery is prop
erly used, there Is no more injury to the throat
than the pipe Of an organ receives from d
steady column OF air.
Many SYSTEMS have been introduced and
marty methods have been tried, to restore or
perpctuate the vocal powers, but none here
proved entirely successful but that which
renders the muscles of the throat, larynx and
abdomen perfectly under the control Of the
performer. There Is but one right use Of the
voice, and, from the creation down to the
present time, all who have spoken OF sung
correctly have used but tile one method.
Two hundred years since, and solo for
either instrument or voice was unknown but
OF late the human voice has been proved to
surpass every musical instrument Ia its pow
er of expression and execution, lind how
much of charm has been conferred upon so.
ciety in its wonderful flights of song those
who have listened to Jenny Lind, Nilsson
Thufsbyy the late Parepa and Titiens can tes
tify.
We live in an age OF progress, and our ma.
tion Is constantly making improvements by
sea and land, but embodiment of all these is
centeted in thought aud made ineligible
through the most wonderful of all instru-
ments-ths human voice.
The human voice is produced by tiny in
strument, made up of cartilages A pair of
ligaments, group of muscles, and the cav
tiles of the mouth reinforce the tone as it is
produced by the air from the lungs, vo6aIiza-
tion being simultaneous with expiration, and,
when the breath is properly managed there
Is apparently but slight effort in managing
the muscles Of the chest aud diaphragm which
throw the air from the lungs against the vo-
cal ligaments with the proper force.
All iinskillful use of the muscles Used In
the breathing catises mitch labor, unnatural
heavings of the chest. gasping sounds, IA
tigue harsh, cultural, nasal tones, which
are also wanting In fisxibility and firmness.
The control OF the tongue, which must lie
fiat throughout It's entire length, is one Of the
most essential points in vocal practice, and
ono that is generally overlooked or not nm
derstood. Let 0ts make the experiment Of
speaking any one Of the vowel tones, and
they will almost come with a click these can
be made as pure as singing tones, and In fact,
when vocals are perfectly made, they are on
ly to be prolonged, to be at once converted
into pure singing tone, simply from the fact
that all the parts Of the vocal tube are in a
corresponding position to reflect with precis-
ion the waves Of tone into the mouth. To
this practice, perfected, add the discipline of
anothe set of muscles, which must be per-
fectly independent to their action and not in
terfere with the vocal or tone process, and yet
DO 30 blended az to act tremendously, and
you have piece of mechanism wonderful In
its smallness, and giving out, In its capacity
for richness, power and sw5sttiess, that which
delights the car over all other instruf1ehts.
The influence Of Il rich, flowing voice, eith-
er In speaking or singing, cannot BIO estimat.
cd as It's Vaccinations and influence are bound
less. And when should this education COM
mence? This natural qualities Of the voice
vary in different persons and some have .
more suitable organization and genius for vo-
cal art than Others but there is no voice how
ever stubborn, we believe, but may be improv-
ed, and from earliest childhood should this
education commence, az the more the muscles
are trained, tho more perfect their action, so
that the Use OF the voice becomes automatic,
as walking--simply under the guidance of
will. While is it highly desirable that the ed
ucation of the human voice should commence
with the earliest years, it has been illustrated
beyond question that, even after many years
Of practice and abuse of the organs by iy tim
ed Instruction, 1t can not only be restored to
its original purity, but be brought so COM
pleteiy under the control Of the will Of its
possessor as to form an undeniable disprcof
Of the theory that singers, after certain age,
are compelled to abandon their accomplish
msnt and give up this fascinating power to
please after they have labored for years to
render themselves able TO do so.
A flushed method implies purity of voice,
sweetness and power, no faltering Of tones,
but steady rising from note to note with
equal quality of tone ON each and every VOW
81, articulation being clear and distinct. In
scales every note is clearly defined, and nod-
ulatioa OF voice accomplished with perfect
ease.
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