New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A BOOK ABOUT SINGING.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF SINGING BY Clara kath.
ieen Rogers SvO. PIP. Els. New.iork; Harper
q Brothers.
An ambitious title is not bellcd In this little book
II Is a thoughtful discussion OF The mission OF SIZE
Ing and tho elements Of truthful vocal expression
IL contains also the foundation lines OF method
but there is something fearful In the very thoneht
OF lbcrating a method when one opens III" cover
Of book that glad To say that MIS- i"S''S
has Devoted fonr times rs much attention to the study
Of basic principles She has TO technics anu 'ho"e'
we wond not advise such procedure, the sixty pages
4, which she for,nulaes her theories Of mechanism
and Technique might omitted without seriously I'M
pairing tho value and symmetry OF her book rs an
entity 1t l. her keen analysis OF the psychological
elements Of vocal art that makes the book Naua
he In THIS shc builds strongly gracefully sym
uetricolly on base that none Will be able 10 shake
who may disagree with her tho questions OF breath
,, and repl-crs those perennial rocks Of offence to
OH who are persuaded lv curiosity or duty 10 look
into books that treat Of singing. Mrs Rogers Is IL
singer. indeed unlc., we confoundinS her with
somebody else she Is daughter OF John Barnett, The
english composer and was known to the music lovers
Of The not distant past as Clara Doria. BON CIT
onmstances are suggested In her writing. As singer
.ho cannot rcfrain-nor Is II necessary that She
sbould-from having and advocating Il method
A. a singer OF some decades ago Size cannot hr'p
feeling a sort o. semi idoatrous admiration for Ne
great singers ~ the paSt-Catalani. Rubin, MaDrai
Pasta tiri~, Iamhurlni. DOnZeHl, NloOHi' h''"'''
per,iani and othcrs-of whom She il Wiling 10 De
love that were they living they would iran
scend any of the singers We have" Eut as woman
with n quick loclcal liberal receptive mind ana soul
she is unwilling 70 believe that the AIT OF singing has
,ooch4d its meridian There Is almost contribute
lion indeed between her belief in the superiority
q, IN. old singers and her ideal Of what singing shoud
10 for that IDEAL res's upon AN entirely dhtret con-
ception ~ vocal music than that which was peVa'h
g., tne Gsvs Of brilliant Vocal-n. singing Is nothihS
,o Mrs Rogers unless # gives frank ana truthful eA
accession 10 emotion Her exposition Of this truth IS
,,oou.ut I'm f., clrncstre~s. Without saying 50 $40
has SET as her guiding principle he scien'ihc sNiomS
o, Herbert spencer" Variations OF voice are me
physiological rcsultS of variations OF ieelihe ""
Feeling. are muscular stimuli" SO long as singing
vos nero vocal ariifC-. so long a. agility was
,.o lc ~ and end al OF VOcalzauon ms pnhcp."
was without valve. II came into It's rights ONLY
,,hcn opern was rcgoncrated and became again VIA"
q was In the day. OF 1t, nldncy-lyIlc drama. Inc
,os.ill.s Of dramatic expression in mi'lc ho' nav
ing been vet exhausted. II would Of course be iooNh
In assert that singing IS doomed henceorh 10 1910"
the uath Of dccaderce. There Is growing the he"
concoptlon OF its mission and It's capabilities ana 10
this new conception Mrs. Rogers has raM Hi""'c
ulch il FRAGRANT and beautiful and strong II must
command the respect OF all believers in the serious
ness and worth Of music a'en aG'ncy OF IcnI.n -.