SPEECH AND SONG. 247 



pany, and as it were echo, it in a higher key, the whole "being 

 Mended into one sensation to the ear. Then, again, it is well 

 known that every resonance cavity has what may be called an 

 " elective affinity " for one particular note, to the vibrations of 

 which it responds sympathetically, like a lover's heart answering 

 that of his beloved. As the crude note issues from the larynx, 

 the mouth, tongue, and soft palate mold themselves by the most 

 delicately adapted movements into every conceivable variety of 

 shape, clothing the raw bones of sound with body and living rich- 

 ness of tone. Each of the various resonance chambers re-echoes 

 its corresponding tone, so that a single well-delivered note is in 

 reality a full choir of harmonious sounds. 



It has further been proved that each vowel has its own special 

 pitch, and hence it can not be sounded in perfection on any other. 

 The different vowels, in fact, are produced by modifications in the 

 length and shape of the cavity of the mouth, and the note of each 

 one of them is that to which such a resonance chamber naturally 

 responds. It follows from this that, in order to get the best effect 

 from the vocal instrument, there should be the most perfect pos- 

 sible adaptation of the various vowels to the notes on which they 

 are to be sung. Sounds like o and ou (oo) are best rendered in the 

 lower notes of the voice ; a and i (ee) in the upper. It is difficult, 

 indeed almost impossible, to sing the latter vowels on deep notes. 

 The marriage of music to immortal verse can not be perfect unless 

 the various affinities of the vowel sounds are carefully respected 

 by the composer. 



From what has been said it will, I think, be evident that no 

 one, however happily gifted in point of voice, can use his endow- 

 ment to the best advantage without careful training. Every note 

 requires for its artistic production, not only a particular adjust- 

 ment of the larynx, but a special arrangement of the resonators 

 and suitable management of the breath, all the complicated move- 

 ments involved in these various proceedings having to be per- 

 formed automatically and with the most exact precision, and the 

 whole being combined into one instantaneous act. M. Jourdain's 

 master was not such a fool as he is made to appear, when he in- 

 sisted on the mechanism of utterance being clearly understood. 

 When this has been acquired, the singer is still only like a child 

 that has learned to stand ; walking, running, and dancing, in 

 other words the junction of the separate notes into the " linked 

 sweetness" of an air, the graces and ornaments of vocalization, 

 and the secret of sympathetic expression have yet to be acquired. 

 There is an unfortunate tendency at the present day to be satisfied 

 with a very inadequate amount of training, and I can not help 

 thinking that this is partly due to an imperfect appreciation of 

 its necessity. Years are ungrudgingly given to acquiring a mas- 



