VOL. LXIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, 3l3 



XVIII. Account of an Infant Musician. By Charles Burney, Doctor of Music 



and F. R. S. p. 183. 



That reason begins to dawn, and reflection to operate, in some children much 

 sooner than in others, must be known to every one who has had an opportunity 

 of comparing the faculties of one child with those of another. It has however 

 seldom been found, that the senses, by which intelligence is communicated to 

 the mind, advance with even pace towards perfection. The eye and the ear for 

 instance, which seem to afford reason its principal supplies, mature at different 

 periods, in proportion to exercise and experience ; and not only arrive at different 

 degrees of perfection during the stages of infancv, but have different limits at 

 every period of human life. An eye or ear that only serves the common pur- 

 poses of existence is entitled to no praise ; and it is only by extraordinary proofs 

 of quickness and discrimination in the use of these senses, that an early ten- 

 dency to the art of painting or music is discovered. Many children indeed 

 seem to recognize different forms, persons, sounds, and tones of voice, in very 

 early infancy, who never afterwards endeavour to imitate forms by delineation, or 

 sounds by vocal inflexions. 



As drawing or design may be called a refinement of the sense of sight, and 

 practical music of that of hearing ; and as a perfection in these arts at every 

 period of life, from the difficulty of its attainment, and the delight it affords to 

 the admirers and judges of both, is treated with respect, a premature disposition 

 to either usually excites the same kind of wonder as a phenomenon or prodigy. 

 But as persons consummate in these arts, and who are acquainted with the 

 usual difficulties which impede the rapid progress of common students, can only 

 judge of the miraculous parts of a child's knowledge or performance, it will be 

 necessary, before speaking of the talents peculiar to the child who is the subject 

 of the present inquiry, to distinguish, as far as experience and observation shall 

 enable, between a common and supernatural disposition, during infancy, towards 

 the art of music. 



In general a child is not thought capable of profiting from the instructions of 

 a music-master till 5 or 6 years old, though many have discovered an ear capable 

 of being pleased with musical tones, and a voice that could imitate them, much 

 sooner. The lullaby of a nurse during the first months of a child's existence 

 has been found to subdue peevishness, and perhaps divert attention from pain : 

 and in the ^d year it has often happened, that a child has not only been more 

 diverted with one tune or series of sounds than another, but has had sufficient 

 power over the organs of voice to imitate the inflexions by which it is formed ; 

 and these early proofs of what is commonly called musical genius, would doubt- 

 less be more frequently discovered if experiments were made, or the mothers or 

 nurses were musically curious. However, spontaneous eftbrts at forming a tune, 



VOL. XIV. 3 U 



