On the Improvement and Preservation of the lliee.—In the im provement of the song•voice the great objects to accomplish are, 1. To improve its quality in clearness and resonance. 2. To make every note in its compass equally pure. 3. To extend its compass both above and below. 4. To obtain power to produce a prolonged note on each degree of its compass. The accurate intonation of the scales is pre supposed, for without that all training is musically useless. To effect these objects, various systems of discipline are proposed, but none would be successful without the governing ear and voice of a master. The work, however, of Signor Crivelli stands in the foremost rank.
For the preservation of the song-voice the two great principles are, I. To be temperate in all things, as eating, drinking, &c.; and, 2. Daily practice in the scales of music.
In the improvement of the speech-voice, the first great requisite is so to produce voice that it may not be injurious either to the general health or to the throat in particular. 2. To improve its quality in clearness and resonance throughout its compass. 3. To extend its compass both above and below. 4. To produce a prolonged speech note on each degree of its compass. These have seldom been systema tically attempted, and not only have many orators been limited in their success by the defects of their voices, but many have been obliged to discontinue their avocations, especially the clergy, either from the injury to the throat or to the general health which public speaking produced. The primary object of elocutionary science, like
that of physical, is to produce the greatest possible effect with the least expenditure of power; but, as in song-training, no system can be successful without the governing ear and voice of a master. The work entitled Cull on Public: Reading' contains an outline of speech-voice training which has been eminently successful.
For the preservation of the speech-voice, as for the song-voice, temperance in all things is required ; also daily practice in the several forms of speech-note. By this means public speaking may become a pleasurable and healthful exercise.
The ancient orators were accustomed to exercise their voices daily in preparatory declamations, and to ascend and descend through the compass of their voices by repeating about 500 lines of verse from memory. The ancients adopted various medicaments and diets as beneficial to the voice, and certain nostrums are recommended at the present day; but let the orator depend more on a proper exercise of his organs, as the ainger does on his, and be will be rewarded with cheerfulness and health.
VOID. D'acrest.j