stance, will consist of discrete sounds. A succession of syllables, consisting of separate impulses, are a succession of discrete sounds, commencing at the same or different points of pitch from each other; while the slides heard in the utterance of each syllable will consist of concrete sounds. Discrete and Concrete sound is therefore heard in all discourse, and both are inseparable from it.

Discrete sounds consist of a series of skips. These are made by omitting the concrete or sliding movement previously described, produced by the motion of the finger.

T T STT TST TST T T S

1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 The horizontal line drawn above represents the strings of the violin, the black dots the points, places, or degrees at which it is to be pressed to produce certain sounds. From 1 to 7 constitutes the series of sounds called the scale, each rising above the other. To this series of seven sounds a second series may be added of the same number, beginning immediately above the first; each sound in such second series bearing the same relation in pitch to every other sound in that series, which the corresponding sound bears to every other in the first series. The letters put between the supposed places of sound represent the terms Tone and Semitone. Tone means a certain distance (mathematically determined) between the sounds;-Semitone means about half that distance. Musical instruments in general, such as the piano forte, organ and others, produce only discrete sounds, or such a succession of sounds as is here represented. The violin and other stringed instruments can produce both con

crete and discrete sounds. The human voice produces both.

Each sound of the scale is called a note. The distance between any two notes, whether next to each other, or more distant, is called an interval. The interval from

.

1 to 2 is called a tone, from 2 to 3 a tone, from 3 to 4 (being about half the distance) a semitone, from 4 to 5, from 5 to 6, and from 6 to 7 are tones, from 7 to 8 a semitone. The intervals are named numerically, that is, the interval from 1 to 2 is called a second, from 1 to 3 a third, from 1 to 4 a fourth, from 1 to 5 a fifth, from 1 to 6 a sixth, from 1 to 7 a seventh, from 1 to 8 an octave. The intervals rise from 1 to 2, 1 to 3, 1 to 4 and so on, and fall in the same reverse order. Though the first seven sounds make up what is called the scale, the ear requires in order to form a satisfactory close, that the first of the second series, marked 8 and called the octave, (as before stated,) should be added, in running the voice upwards or downwards, in the order of the scale, or in what is called in musical science solfaing. The first note of any series of sounds is called the key note. The succession of the seven notes above described is called the natural scale, because that succession is satisfactory to the ear. It is also called the Diatonic scale from Dia by or through, and Tonos a sound. The term melody (as applicable to speech) in this Grammar, means the condition of single sounds and the order of successive sounds as respects the pitch. Concrete melody means the pitch of the slides of speech. Discrete melody the pitch at which successive syllables begin relatively to each other. Intonation means the management of the voice in the production of pitch both concrete and discrete.

QUESTIONS.

1. How is Elocution defined?

2. What is meant by quality of voice?

3. What are the most important properties of the voice with regard to quality?

4. What is meant by force of voice?
5. How are degrees of force expressed?

6. What is meant by the time of the voice?
7. How are the varieties of time expressed?

8. What is the meaning of quantity as applied to the voice?

9. Give an example of long quantity.

10. Give an example of short quantity.

11. What is the meaning of abruptness as applicable to the voice?

12. How is pitch defined?

13. What is meant by the musical scale?

14. What are the particular modifications of pitch in speech?

15. How are the degrees of pitch measured?

16. How are the sounds of the scale produced?
17. What is a note?

18. What is the meaning of interval?

19. What is the meaning of a tone?

20. What is a semitone?

21. What are the different intervals of the scale called?

22. What is the key note?

23. What is the meaning of the term melody?

24. What is concrete melody?

25. What is discrete melody?

26. What is meant by Intonation?

RECITATION FIFTH.

Of the Elements of Sound which enter into the concrete slide of the voice, when it is so managed as to give the greatest possible pleasure to the ear.

We shall employ the letter I for the purpose of illustrating the slide of the voice. That element (as before stated) is a dipthong; being compounded of the opening sound of the element, and the obscure one of ee as heard at the beginning of the word E-ve, upon which latter sound it dies away into silence. If I be properly, uttered alone in a deliberate but natural manner, as it would be in the sentence "I acknowledge him as my friend," it will open with some degree of abrupt fullness, will gradually lessen in volume as it proceeds, will terminate in a deli-. cate vanish and will rise in pitch a tone or second during its slide. The circumstances to be displayed in this process and worthy of notice as elements of sound are, the force and fullness of the opening-the equable lessening of volume, the gradual change of sound from the opening part of the element into the obscure sound of ee-the extended quantity-the final termination of the progressively diminishing sound in a fine vanish upon the ee-together with the rise in pitch through the interval of a tone.

The circumstances to which exclusive attention is next to be directed, are, the opening fullness, the gradually diminishing volume, and the final vanish. The contrast of the two extremeties of the element, as to force or volume of voice, induced Dr. Rush, the ingenious discoverer of these circumstances, to give the name of radical, to the first part of the element, and vanishing movement to the second,

-and he calls the whole movement which has been described a radical and vanishing tone. The terms need never confuse the mind; the radical, means the beginning of a syllable, while the vanish is employed to express its termination. This gradually lessening volume of sound upon syllables and exquisite vanish with which they terminate, contrasted with their opening fullness, are circumstances which show the superiority of the human voice over all instruments. The full manifestation of the radical and vanish in the management of the slides of long quantity, or in other words, in the utterance of long syllables, in speaking, reading, and recitation, is in the highest degree captivating to the ear and is what gives smoothness and delicacy to the tones of the voice. In short syllables, the difference of the radical and vanish is perceptible though not so obvious.

If the voice is destitute of the vanishing property it will sound coarse, harsh and heavy. On this account much practice ought to be insisted upon in order to acquire these agreeable elements of the slide of speech.

We therefore subjoin a table containing a certain number of alphabetic sounds, upon which it is important to exercise the voice with persevering assiduity. Under the head of quantity we shall subjoin a table of words, but the function described should be practised in the first place on alphabetic sounds.

The long vowels shew the properties of the voice just described, in the best manner. Their opening can be rendered abrupt and full, their quantity can be extended; they display the lessening volume of the voice, its final vanish, and change of pitch during its slide more obviously than any other elements,