Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Proceedings of the Musical Association for the Investigation and Discussion of Subjects Connected With the Art and Science of Music: Twenty-Seventh Session, 1900-1901
These Introductions, Directions, or Principles, as they were variously styled, contain what we Should now term the Rudi ments of Music, or at all events, as much of them as is needed for those who wish to sing a simple melody. They have an interest peculiarly their own, as illustrating the efforts made by the pioneers of Congregational psalmody to secure an intelligent, as well as a general participation in its rendering. Psalm-singing was to our ancestors of the early reformed Church, something to be approached with reverence not to be dealt with lightly, but worthy of serious study. This idea of providing musical instructions was handed on, and imitated, for certainly 250 years and though latterly it became a mere fashion to sflix something of that sort to every Psalm-book printed, the contents are none the less interesting, as by view ing them consecutively and continuously, we get a Clear insight into the various methods of practical music in vogue during this long period. We can trace efforts to record pitch, key, time; we discover the source and growth of several systems of solfeggio; and incidentally, we can read, though it has been quite unconsciously recorded, the story of the marvellous hold which the ancient has on the human mind even when it has become Obsolete and useless. Men cannot, dare not throw it aside, it is consecrated by age, and all innovations are profane. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
