By John Lambert, Esq. 331 
add a word to explain somewhat more clearly the exact meaning 
which I wish to attach to the word Rhythm itself. 
Rhythm then, as applied to Music, is nothing more than a certain 
well-proportioned series of sounds, arising from slow and quick move- 
ments,and when metre is joined to Rhythm, as in Poetry, it may be 
termed the measure of Rhythm itself; and hence, when speaking 
of Poetry, the term Rhythm is often used as including metre also. 
It is manifest, however, that they have distinct significations, as the 
following quotation from St. Augustine willshew: “‘ Yousee,”’says he, 
“how correctly both terms, viz., Rhythm and Measure, have been 
applied to these things; for since the one moves on by certain feet 
it is rightly called rhythmus or number, but inasmuch as its progress 
or movement is not systematic, nor does it determine on what foot 
it should end, it ought not to be called measure, because there is no 
measure of continuation; when, however, both rhythm and metre 
are united, they run in given feet, and terminate at a certain point.” 
The Music, therefore, of the Middle Ages, when in its perfection, 
was principally of two kinds, viz., (1.) Rhythmical Chant, and (2.) 
Metrical Chant, each of which is susceptible of further divisions. 
The first in its more simple form was Psalmodic, consisting of a 
chief note of recitation, with modulated cadences at the middle or 
end of each verse, and regulated in its execution by the accent of 
language; whilst in its more elaborate pieces it had no reciting 
note, and was composed of a series of melodious phrases, more or 
less charged with notes depending for their proper effect upon a due 
attention to the Musical accent. 
The Metrical Music was subdivided into two parts: 
Ist. That which was purely syllabic, and depended upon the 
measure of the words; and 
2nd. That which contained more than one note to all or some 
of the syllables, and required that the Rhythm of the Music should 
be taken into account, as well as the measure and accent of the 
words. 
In illustration of what I have advanced, I propose to give you 
some examples of the foregoing kinds of Music, under the following 
heads; 
