ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 4^ 



lumptuary laws for the general welfare. He la- 

 boured with unremitting zeal, to accuftom his fub- 



jeds 



and a knowledge of the fubject and words^ has afforded very high 

 pleafure in a Scottifh fong. Who coukl hear, with infemibility, 

 or without being moved in the greatelt degree, Tenducci ling /'// 

 never leave t bee, or, The Braes of Ball? ndine? or, Will ye go to tbt 

 Ewe-$ugffisi Marlon, fung by Signora Corri "? 



It is a common defect in fome who pretend to ling, to affect to 

 (mother the words, by not articulating them, ib as we Icarce can 

 find out either the fiibject or language of their fongs. This is 

 always a fign of want of feeling, and the mark of a bad linger ; 

 particularly of Scottifh fongs, where there is generally fo intimate 

 a correlpondence bstu-een the air and iubject j indeed, there can 

 be no good vocal voice without it. 



The proper accompaniment of a Scottifh fong, is a .plain, thin^ 

 dropping bate, on the harpfichord or guittar. The fine breath- 

 ings, tbofe bcart-felt torches, which genius alone can exprefs, in 

 our fongs, are loll, in a noify accompaniment of inftruments. The 

 full chords of a thorough, bais faould be uled fparingly, and with 

 judgment, n.ot to overpower, but to fupport and raiie the voice at 

 proper panics. 



Where) with a fine voice, is joined fome (kill and execution in 

 either of thole initruments, the air, by way of iymphony, or intro- 

 duction to the fong, ihonld always be firlt played over ; and, at 

 the dole of every Itanza, th;? late part of the air flioukl be repeated, 

 as a relief lor the voice, which it gracefully lets off. In this^'tf- 

 pbonic part, the performer may {hew his taile and fancy .on the in- 

 Itrument, by carrying it ad libitum. 



A Scottiih fong admits of no cadence ; I mean, by this, no fan- 

 ciful or capricious defcant upon the clofe of the time. There is 

 one embellilhment, however, which a fine finger may eafily ac- 

 quire, that is, an cafyjbake* This, while the organs are rlexibb 

 iti a young voice, may, with practice, be eafily attained. 



ASeottifli fong, thus performed, is among the highcit of enter* 

 tainments to a mvfcal gatins. But is this genius to be acq\iired, 

 either in the performer or hearer ? it cannot. Genius in mujic, as 

 in poetry, is the" gift of Heaven ; it is bom with us, it is not t j 

 be learned. 



An arti ft on the violin may difplay the magic of his fingers, in 

 running from the top to the bottom of the finger-board, in various 

 intricate capricios, which, at moll, will only excite furprize ; 

 While a very middling performer, of uttj and feeling, in a fub- 

 ject that admits of \.\\z pathos, will touch the heart in its fineft 

 ienlktions. The fincit of the Italian com pole rs, and many of their 

 fingers, porteis this to an amazing degree. The opeia airs of 



thole 



D 



