224 THE OKIGIN AND FUNCTION OF MUSIC. 



]&amp;gt;ut it is time to end this analysis, which, possibly wo 

 nave already curried too far. It is not to be supposed that 

 the more special peculiarities of musical expression arc to 

 be definitely explained. Though probably they may all in 

 Home way conform to the principle that lias been Avorkcd 

 cut, it is obviously impracticable to trace that principle in ita 

 more ramified applications. Xor is it needful to our argu 

 ment that it should be so traced. The foregoing facts 

 sufficiently prove that what we regard as the distinctive 

 traits of song, arc simply the traits of emotional speech in 

 tensified and systematized. In respect of its general char 

 acteristics, we think it has been made clear that vocal mu 

 sic, and by consequence all music, is an idealization of the 

 natural language of passion. 



As far as it goes, the scanty evidence furnished by his 

 tory confirms this conclusion. Xote first the fact (not 

 properly an historical one, but fitly grouped with such) 

 that the dance-chants of savage tribes arc very monoton 

 ous; and in virtue of their monotony are much more nearly 

 allied to ordinary speech than are the songs of civilized 

 races. Joining with this the fact that there arc still extant 

 among boatmen and others in the East, ancient chants of a 

 like monotonous character, we may infer that vocal music 

 originally diverged from emotional speech in a gradual, 

 unobtrusive manner ; and this is the inference to which 

 our argument points. Further evidence to the same 

 effect is supplied by Greek history. The early poems of 

 the Greeks which, be it remembered, were sacred le 

 gends embodied in that rhythmical, metaphorical language 

 which strong feeling excites were not recited, but chant 

 ed : the tones and the cadences were made musical by the 

 lame influences which made the speech poetical. 



By those who have investigated the matter, this chant 

 ing is believed to have been not what we call singincr, but 



