306 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [^ANNO I69S. 



It will perhaps be asked, why may not all this be now done as well as then ? 

 I answer, no doubt it may ; if an address be made, in proper words with moving 

 arguments, in just measures, with the emphatic words pronounced with a good 

 voice, and a true accent, and attended with a becoming gesture ; and all these 

 suitably adjusted to the passion, affection, or temper of mind, particularly de- 

 signed to be produced, will certainly now,, as well as then, produce great effects, 

 especially on a surprise, and where persons are not otherwise pre-engaged : and 

 if so managed as that you be, or seem to be, in earnest: and, if not overacted 

 by apparent affectation. 



We are to consider, that the usual design of what we now call music, is very 

 different from that of the ancients. What we call music, is only what they 

 called harmonic ; which was but one part of their music, consisting of words, 

 verse, voice, tune, instrument, and acting, and we are not to expect the same 

 effect from one part as from the whole. When music had arrived to a great 

 perfection, it was applied to particular designs of exciting this or that particular 

 affection, passion, or temper of mind ; the tunes and measures being suitably 

 adapted. But such designs seem almost quite neglected in our present music ; 

 for the chief design now, in our most accomplished music, is to please the ear ; 

 when, by a sweet mixture of different and parts voices, with just cadences and 

 concords intermixed, a grateful sound is produced; which to a common ear is 

 only a confu-ed, though somewhat pleasing noise, of they know not what, while 

 only the judicious musician can discern and distinguish the just effects. 



it is true, that even this compound music admits of different characters ; 

 some are more brisk and airy ; others more sedate and grave ; others more 

 lanL'uid ; as the different subjects require. But that which is most proper to 

 excite particular passions or dispositions, is such as is more simple and uncom- 

 pounded : such as a nurse's languid tune, lulling her babe to sleep ; or a con- 

 tinued reading in an even tone; or even the soft murmur of a little rivulet, 

 running upon gravel or pebbles, inducing a quiet repose of the spirits : and on 

 the contrary, the briskness of a jig, on a fiddle, exciting to dance. And these 

 are more operative to such particular ends, than an elaborate composition of full 

 music. To conclude; if we aim only at pleasing the ear, by a sweet concert, 

 no doubt our modern compositions may equal, if not exceed those of the an- 

 cients among whom J do not find any traces of what we call several parts or 

 voices, as bass, treble, mean, &c. sung in concert, answering each other to 

 complete the music. But if we would have our music so adjusted, as to excite 

 particular passions, affections, or temper of mind, as that of the ancients is 

 sup|)o>ed to have done, we must apply more simple ingredients, fitted to the 

 temper we would produce. For in the sweet mixture of compounded music, 



