Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidera "Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , W . How to Recite . By Edwin Drew . London : Dean and Son , Fleet Street .
WHILE to soma extent agreeing with the author of this little work that elocution may be taught , after a careful perusal of the book before us we must reluctantly express the opinion that little , if any , benefit could be gained by a student of the art from a study of " How to Recite . " We contend that no useful purpose can be served by
merely directing a person to emphasise this or thafc word . There are degrees of emphasis , and such a variety of methods for producing each different degree that ifc is impossible for any individual who has not a sntficient interest in his task—and ability to grasp the meaning of the piece he desires to recite—to receive that interest and
understanding from written directions similar to those our author places before his readers . If the student has not some idea where emphasis is required , he is certain to fail , and no amount of study from a work such as that under consideration will make him or her competent to recite . What is required is , wo think , directions to those who have
the notion , to induce somo idea of the way in which the proper sound of a word can be produced , and the idea an author desires to convey may be carried into effect . Again , we think the selection of poems by no means a happy one . Certainly two recitations worthy any student ' s attention are given — " The Women of Mumbles
Head , " and " The Field of Waterloo ; hut with these exceptions there is nofc a solitary piece that would arouse the average reader ' s interest . Without an interest in his work no student can hope to excel in the art of elocution . We are convinced a selection of really interesting poems for recitation—of which there is
no dearth—combined with a few practical hints on deportment and the mode of economizing voice power would be welcomed by the youthful student ; throughout the present work , however , we do nofc find anything beyond the most commonplace and every-day observations ,- indeed , nothing which would assist a diligent student , or
arouse in any one picking up the book the feeling thafc he or sho could with advantage join the army of elocutionists . We are sorry we cannot speak favourably of " How to Recite , " but we feel the author has failed in his avowed object , —thafc of producing a work which should induce a greater number of the rising generation to more carefully cultivate the use of the voice .
BALLAD SINGING . —I would impress on amateurs who may be interested in the art of singing a ballad that before the chief essential , " speech in gong , " can be arrived at , the proper production of vocal tone must be mastered . To begin with , I would have my readers think of the singing voice as of a marvellous mnsical
instrument which is placed iu the throat . It is a natural combination of many manufactured instruments , but chiefly h is to be considered as partaking of the nature of a wind and a reed instrument —that is to say , the air , propelled by an invisible bufc distinct force from the Inugs , is directed against
the vocal cords or ligaments , where sound is produced . In order that this lound may not be impeded in its efforts to reach the outer air , the throat must allow itself to open . It must open passively ; the sound then escapes , aud finding free passage , it directs itself against another part of the instrument , which is the sounding-board ,
or resonator , of the voice , and is known to us as the hard palate , just above the top front teeth . Here the sound is magnified , intensified , or minimised , and managed as the artist chooses , and when perfected it may be clothed in speech , and so produced finally in " song . " " Speech in song " means , to my
mind , that the sound which is uttered is so enveloped by the word , that " word and sound , " so combined and perfected , end in being " song . " It will be seen , then , that to sing an English ballad requires an unusual combination of forces in the singer , and it is this very necessary combination which makes the true artist so rare . — From Oassell's Family Magazine for March .
" ILLUSTRATIONS . "—Mr . Blackmore will contribute " the Lonely Bride " to the April number of Mr . F , G . Heath's new pictorial threepenny review , " Illustrations , " which will also include an illustrated article on the London underground " circle " system of railways .
General Gordon's high appreciation of "Plutarch ' s Lives" is well known , and vnrions references to the work occur in his Diary at Khartoum . "I would make 'Plutarch's Lives , '" he writes in one place , " a handbook for onr officers ; it ia better than any nnmber of 'Arts of War , ' or ' Minor Tactic ? . ' " "It would be nobler , "he writes
m another place , to keep the Sondan , but it is too much to expect onr taxpayers to agree to , nnd besides which , ' Plutarch ' s Lives' are no longer in vogue , ancl ' yon must pay me well ere I go to the
Soudan' is the idea . It will interest many to know that a cheap reprint of " Plutarch's Lives of Alexander and Crasar " has just been issued as a volume of " Oassell ' s National Library , " now publishing in threepenny weekly volumes .
The first number of a new serial issue of " Familiar Wild Flowers" makes its appearance this month . It is illustrated with 200 coloured plate . n , from tho original paintings made expressly for the work by Mr . F . E . Hulme , F . L . S ., F . S . A .
The Bevised Book of Constitutions ; Critically Considered and Compared with the Old Edition . London : Simpkin , Marshall & Co . 4 Stationers' Hall Court , E . C . Sent on re . ceint of stamps , One Shilling , by W W . Morsran , Freemason ' s Chronicle Office , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentenville .
Reviews.
The ceremonies of consecration and installation will be rehearsed at the Marquis of Ripon Lodge of Instruction , No . 1489 , held at the Queen ' s Hotel , Victoria Park Road , Hackney , on Monday next , the 22 nd inst ., by Bro . James
Terry P . P . G . S . W . Norths and Hunts , Secretary Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , & c . Lodge will be opened at 7 o' clock .
We again remind our readers that the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 , will give their first concert this ( Saturday ) evening , at the Brixton Hall , Acre lane , Brixton , in aid of the Lodge Benevolent Fund . Bros . W . Ganz Past Grand Organist , W . L . Barrett , and Frederick Candy have promised their assistance . Amonp-st the other artistes who
will give their services are Madame Thayer , Misses Bene Fowell , Alma Evelyn , Lizzie Mulholland , and Alice Farren ; Messrs . Percy Palmer , Herbert Jewell , and
Henry Horscroft , Messrs . F . F . Buffen , Lee Davies , Sidney F . Hill ( pianoforte ) , M . Theodore Werner ( violin ) , Herr Otto Langley ( violoncello ) . Following the Masonic principle of equality , there are to be no reserved seats .
Bro . A . Petts was installed Worshipful Master of the Temple Lodge , No . 538 , Folkestone , on the 2 nd inst ., the ceremony being performed by Bro . Hart Past Master , in a very able manner . The Lodge and its guests afterwards dined together at the Pavilion Hotel , and spent a very agreeable evening .
Ad00702
THEAMERICAN PORTABLEMUSICSTANDS. J . F . WALTERS' PATENT . Iron , from 10 / 6 each . Brass , Jffrom 30 / - each . r "pHESE Stands are unsurpassed in simplicity , strength , portability JL cheapness , nucl elegance of finish . They are suitable for Military Banti , Orchestras , Reading ancl News Rooms , Libraries , Studies , nnd Drawing 'Rooms When opened to their full capacity they startl 5 feet higl > , and can be folded nd enclosed in a case 21 inches long by 2 inches diameter . The weightis about lbs . 12 oz ., and they will support a weight of 50 lbs . To be obtained of all Musia Dealers , and of the Manufacturers and Proprietors cf the Patent , HARROW & CO . MUSIC SMITHS , BRASS WORKERS , & c-13 and 14 Portland Street , Soho , London , W . DESCRIPTIVE CIRCULARS FREE .
Ad00703
INSTALLATION OF H . R . H . THE FRINGE OF WALES As the M . W . G . M . of England , AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL 2 8 th APEIL 187 5 . COPIES of this BEAUTIFUL ENfiRAVIXO by Rather FT A KIT P . M ., consisting of Artist ' s Proofs . Proofs be ' ore r . ni . er-, ; vu \ l . nff > vv-. 'i Proofs , India Prints , and Plain Prims may be linrt nf Cist Pri- - ¦ ¦ by : ip ; il ; irg fo Bro . W . R . NORTHS , 29 Southampton B -jLiidingf ! , r . C , Lender ..
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidera "Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , W . How to Recite . By Edwin Drew . London : Dean and Son , Fleet Street .
WHILE to soma extent agreeing with the author of this little work that elocution may be taught , after a careful perusal of the book before us we must reluctantly express the opinion that little , if any , benefit could be gained by a student of the art from a study of " How to Recite . " We contend that no useful purpose can be served by
merely directing a person to emphasise this or thafc word . There are degrees of emphasis , and such a variety of methods for producing each different degree that ifc is impossible for any individual who has not a sntficient interest in his task—and ability to grasp the meaning of the piece he desires to recite—to receive that interest and
understanding from written directions similar to those our author places before his readers . If the student has not some idea where emphasis is required , he is certain to fail , and no amount of study from a work such as that under consideration will make him or her competent to recite . What is required is , wo think , directions to those who have
the notion , to induce somo idea of the way in which the proper sound of a word can be produced , and the idea an author desires to convey may be carried into effect . Again , we think the selection of poems by no means a happy one . Certainly two recitations worthy any student ' s attention are given — " The Women of Mumbles
Head , " and " The Field of Waterloo ; hut with these exceptions there is nofc a solitary piece that would arouse the average reader ' s interest . Without an interest in his work no student can hope to excel in the art of elocution . We are convinced a selection of really interesting poems for recitation—of which there is
no dearth—combined with a few practical hints on deportment and the mode of economizing voice power would be welcomed by the youthful student ; throughout the present work , however , we do nofc find anything beyond the most commonplace and every-day observations ,- indeed , nothing which would assist a diligent student , or
arouse in any one picking up the book the feeling thafc he or sho could with advantage join the army of elocutionists . We are sorry we cannot speak favourably of " How to Recite , " but we feel the author has failed in his avowed object , —thafc of producing a work which should induce a greater number of the rising generation to more carefully cultivate the use of the voice .
BALLAD SINGING . —I would impress on amateurs who may be interested in the art of singing a ballad that before the chief essential , " speech in gong , " can be arrived at , the proper production of vocal tone must be mastered . To begin with , I would have my readers think of the singing voice as of a marvellous mnsical
instrument which is placed iu the throat . It is a natural combination of many manufactured instruments , but chiefly h is to be considered as partaking of the nature of a wind and a reed instrument —that is to say , the air , propelled by an invisible bufc distinct force from the Inugs , is directed against
the vocal cords or ligaments , where sound is produced . In order that this lound may not be impeded in its efforts to reach the outer air , the throat must allow itself to open . It must open passively ; the sound then escapes , aud finding free passage , it directs itself against another part of the instrument , which is the sounding-board ,
or resonator , of the voice , and is known to us as the hard palate , just above the top front teeth . Here the sound is magnified , intensified , or minimised , and managed as the artist chooses , and when perfected it may be clothed in speech , and so produced finally in " song . " " Speech in song " means , to my
mind , that the sound which is uttered is so enveloped by the word , that " word and sound , " so combined and perfected , end in being " song . " It will be seen , then , that to sing an English ballad requires an unusual combination of forces in the singer , and it is this very necessary combination which makes the true artist so rare . — From Oassell's Family Magazine for March .
" ILLUSTRATIONS . "—Mr . Blackmore will contribute " the Lonely Bride " to the April number of Mr . F , G . Heath's new pictorial threepenny review , " Illustrations , " which will also include an illustrated article on the London underground " circle " system of railways .
General Gordon's high appreciation of "Plutarch ' s Lives" is well known , and vnrions references to the work occur in his Diary at Khartoum . "I would make 'Plutarch's Lives , '" he writes in one place , " a handbook for onr officers ; it ia better than any nnmber of 'Arts of War , ' or ' Minor Tactic ? . ' " "It would be nobler , "he writes
m another place , to keep the Sondan , but it is too much to expect onr taxpayers to agree to , nnd besides which , ' Plutarch ' s Lives' are no longer in vogue , ancl ' yon must pay me well ere I go to the
Soudan' is the idea . It will interest many to know that a cheap reprint of " Plutarch's Lives of Alexander and Crasar " has just been issued as a volume of " Oassell ' s National Library , " now publishing in threepenny weekly volumes .
The first number of a new serial issue of " Familiar Wild Flowers" makes its appearance this month . It is illustrated with 200 coloured plate . n , from tho original paintings made expressly for the work by Mr . F . E . Hulme , F . L . S ., F . S . A .
The Bevised Book of Constitutions ; Critically Considered and Compared with the Old Edition . London : Simpkin , Marshall & Co . 4 Stationers' Hall Court , E . C . Sent on re . ceint of stamps , One Shilling , by W W . Morsran , Freemason ' s Chronicle Office , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentenville .
Reviews.
The ceremonies of consecration and installation will be rehearsed at the Marquis of Ripon Lodge of Instruction , No . 1489 , held at the Queen ' s Hotel , Victoria Park Road , Hackney , on Monday next , the 22 nd inst ., by Bro . James
Terry P . P . G . S . W . Norths and Hunts , Secretary Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , & c . Lodge will be opened at 7 o' clock .
We again remind our readers that the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 , will give their first concert this ( Saturday ) evening , at the Brixton Hall , Acre lane , Brixton , in aid of the Lodge Benevolent Fund . Bros . W . Ganz Past Grand Organist , W . L . Barrett , and Frederick Candy have promised their assistance . Amonp-st the other artistes who
will give their services are Madame Thayer , Misses Bene Fowell , Alma Evelyn , Lizzie Mulholland , and Alice Farren ; Messrs . Percy Palmer , Herbert Jewell , and
Henry Horscroft , Messrs . F . F . Buffen , Lee Davies , Sidney F . Hill ( pianoforte ) , M . Theodore Werner ( violin ) , Herr Otto Langley ( violoncello ) . Following the Masonic principle of equality , there are to be no reserved seats .
Bro . A . Petts was installed Worshipful Master of the Temple Lodge , No . 538 , Folkestone , on the 2 nd inst ., the ceremony being performed by Bro . Hart Past Master , in a very able manner . The Lodge and its guests afterwards dined together at the Pavilion Hotel , and spent a very agreeable evening .
Ad00702
THEAMERICAN PORTABLEMUSICSTANDS. J . F . WALTERS' PATENT . Iron , from 10 / 6 each . Brass , Jffrom 30 / - each . r "pHESE Stands are unsurpassed in simplicity , strength , portability JL cheapness , nucl elegance of finish . They are suitable for Military Banti , Orchestras , Reading ancl News Rooms , Libraries , Studies , nnd Drawing 'Rooms When opened to their full capacity they startl 5 feet higl > , and can be folded nd enclosed in a case 21 inches long by 2 inches diameter . The weightis about lbs . 12 oz ., and they will support a weight of 50 lbs . To be obtained of all Musia Dealers , and of the Manufacturers and Proprietors cf the Patent , HARROW & CO . MUSIC SMITHS , BRASS WORKERS , & c-13 and 14 Portland Street , Soho , London , W . DESCRIPTIVE CIRCULARS FREE .
Ad00703
INSTALLATION OF H . R . H . THE FRINGE OF WALES As the M . W . G . M . of England , AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL 2 8 th APEIL 187 5 . COPIES of this BEAUTIFUL ENfiRAVIXO by Rather FT A KIT P . M ., consisting of Artist ' s Proofs . Proofs be ' ore r . ni . er-, ; vu \ l . nff > vv-. 'i Proofs , India Prints , and Plain Prims may be linrt nf Cist Pri- - ¦ ¦ by : ip ; il ; irg fo Bro . W . R . NORTHS , 29 Southampton B -jLiidingf ! , r . C , Lender ..