The Republican journal., 1881-06-23
NUMBER 25.
Musical Education. Concluded.
DECLINE IN THE ART OF SINGIN

Musical Education. Concluded
DECLINE IN THE ART OF SINGING
From the Boston Home journal
Reviewing the history of great singers of the
last century, and examining the course of study
pursued by them, musicians are generally inclined
to believe that the race of singers Of the grand
style is lost, and with this race the school they
created; that the names of Pasti, Grisi Sontag
Mabran, Alboni, Mara Carodori, have lost the
connecting link with the present generation of
singers The last representative Of the grand
style III opera and oratono was Tietjiens, whose
expression and impassicned acting are remember
ed here above the bemishes to which ner voice
mad become liable when she visited this country
The principal reasons given are, the decline OF
grand Italian opera in favor of German opera and
the change of pitch adopted by orchcstras since
the time of Handel The music of Italian opera
gave the voice every facility Of execution and ex
preston, likewise testing the capacity of singers
to the utmost limits The varied character of the
arlas are not surpassed in vocal merit by any com
positions of later date. Purity of tone and un-
limited supply Of breath was the result of this
school OF song. Dramatic expression was esteem
ed a necessary accompaniment, but did not super
sede the vocal requirements of singer The
study OF German opera has developed the recita
tive to such an extent that vocal defamation is
cultivated at the expense of vocal execution
while dramatic ability is recognized before musi
cal talent. This change in the requirements OF
artists has the tendency to limit the opportunities
for perfect development. In other respects Ger
man opera Is esteemed to be natural outgroWth
of the style which preceded it, and is in harmony
with the musical progress Of the time
The pitch, by which the different instruments
are tubed, and by which the keys of compositions
are regulated has been gradually going higher
until It is now estimated TO have risen whole
tone since the time of Handal and the production
of his works In the year 1918, attention was
called to the orchestral pitch in England and it
was then found to be half tone above the kew
as regulated by the tuning fork at the time before
mentioned. The effects dema lded by modern in
strumental music and the more elaborate scoring
OF orchestral music have brought about this gradual
change. Although it cannot be denied that most
brilliant and eectrying results have been obtain
ed IN instrumental compositions the effect upon
voices has been detrimental to their preservation
The upper registers of the soprano and tenor are
thus used il place of the more sympathetic tones
OF the lower registers. High sopranos are formed
or at least are substituted for mezzo osopranos
tenors cultivate the fasetto at the expense of pure
head tone. As for bassoS and contratos, the for
mer are becoming almost lost race, and our bari
tones are by believed to have risen from the
ashes. Contraltos are developing mezz soprano
range, and IN that capacity fill many contrato
role III opera and OratorlO, The testimony of Sims
Reeves, whose emphatic voice is often raised upon
this tne question: is sufficient to illustrate the dis
advantage under which singers labor at the pres
ent time He says Nv hen singer is called upon
to produce the III sound an alarm. he really
produces the note which in Handels time would
have been exactly b, strain on the singer com
pensatod by no adequate improvement III the eff
feet at least OF the vocal part In singing with
orchestra the brilancy OF Instrumentation de
mands an unnatural exertion on the part OF an
artist, unless the discipline of Thomas orchestra
permits piano accompaniment
OUR AMERICAN SINGERS.
While the number and talent OF American sing
ers have surprisingly increased and opportunities
Tor nome study have contributed muph TO this
suit IT still remains question Of discussion
whether the climate and habits of living in the
United States are conducive to the production of
voices, having a rich and sympathetic quality, and
of physique to support such voices. The climate
is considered too high and dry and its effect too
exharatng upon the nervous system As the
voice is pitched in higher key han the normal
one in moments of passion Or excitement SO IS the
speaking voice OF Americans affected by the chm
ate. Womens voices are remarked by strangers
as being unusually high and sometimes shril.
The singing voice is doubtless similarly affected
by these circumstances and the predominance OF
pure sopranos among our singers is attributed to
this cause. Much injury to the voice is done how
ever, by insufficient training and unwholesome
living. The majority Of pupils are not pre-
pared for the task they wish to undertake and
have formed no intelligent idea OF their own
capacity and the extent OF training required In
struction should be thorough in the beginning
but teacher is necessarily much restricted in
plan of study which is likely to be hastily ended
or continued with fresh amendments. The ten
=, Peopie ueie - ~ "a Aeea Ieslts ~ lolIhs
p M et ioielsiel' iaool @ 1ii"us } caio- ms
hard, metallic quality. which may at first seem
brilliant and powerful, but is obtained at the sac
iy1 VI u uV nIus'cal 'uuc' oec euluIe oi Fote
pu.!u!H = - ON? oe pianGu vi Ht!5lt' Duh IL Is
and pupil at the lesson hour,
The general knowledge of n. sic desired from
pracuGlng the piano. as we'll as the study Of har
lhony, snouuu oe acquiIeu 10 olNei ways II the
;y 10y VI e oti it"ia ~ oiooi Va 9lhS!ns, PuPlls
@ ei!ti0 ""o MY oeouPlcu l'h tne stuu! VI vail
gus gus ol"HeLITs oI nus!c, Iluepe"uent u tHe vocal
ieoaoh' ~ ~ teIcp!ae't elnseie ie h4o"h " nave
stson '"uu a.tvHliun " tlte piano anu tneoiy vi
nlusle' 1 Mls plillnslon q laLneus hnshsn PFliha
uoAna' ' VINO possesseu "ol9eIlul powers Oh eAeeu-
tion! et"uleu te Piano So uii'seHty even aitel az
qu'ilhs iono"n as Noeailot' tllat an eAthusaSilC
neIipel ol an orchestra salu' sne SluSs as wei
"t.n n.y. A.selo do VIZ loL to4ce' \ leIl' 'oioi
ouo WY . 9eHGi'iiy ~ Aainory WIN tne Puy
sl,lue anu can llaius DC APeetea iIolI thinnefF
nus ', Pe!son Win natloN cues anu sieIuel "aisl
ihese tialts are tle general charaeteflst!cs ol dn
american glf ana our pest teachers erticlse the
N,.i ou."aiu ssne VI aoIiity vei! acculately Aote
Islelul a,'oht'ol ~ lc ny Slehle ieY"lIelnets Vi
@ uloss auu lle wen kno"u Jaws ol healthlul uleI
are neusssafy 10 overcome tue ora" naeNs imposed
py Il! ms cllLla'e
GENERAL STUDY OF SINGING in AMERICA.
Tho nuuber of good vocal taachers pbo ha,o
the education and eynerienco acNnirad hv manv
wears of stndr ,hroad i sntIicienf 10 ndncata tha
newt eencration of SINGERS vet On account of ey
nense the adyantagas ~ nriyata taachers mnst ha
Invited 70 neonle in easv dircnmstancns Wneb ~
proportion Of pupils in these institutions have the
from an oIt;st; stanInoin+ i rn;b7 La soid that
tha oultrotion Of ,nad;ocr;tr il naGtbar nIeosnro
nor nrof, ms boweyer is a mnralr Sifneric;ai
concinsion Tha knowledge ohtainad Pvan #
l;mited and the imnrovad fsste Which folIors i
of imnortanoe in nromotinc, III adra14arnort IF
tha at of ,nnsio ma cnff;Tat;nn NJ tTa ,.aioo
L:h - ~ - - S - u Va to ,e'