OCCASIONAL NOTES. 499 
32. If there is anything noteworthy, about their musical 
instruments, which has not been alluded to in the 
preceding questions, notice it. 
33. Had the nation at any previous period musical instru- 
ments, different from those now in use? 
34. Have they any books containing descriptions of musical 
instruments, or directions for their construction ? 
COMPOSITIONS. 
1. On what order of intervals is the music of the people 
founded? Is it the diatonic major scale (like ¢, d, 
e, f, g, a, b, c), or the diatonic minor scale (in which 
PCMH Ise Hate CMUSI(C, 1d CL fal. 1.19), 0s, 0.6), Or 
the pentatonic scale (in which the fourth and seventh 
are omitted, thus (c, d, e, g, a, c), or some other 
order of intervals ? 
2. Is the seventh used sharp (e—d), or flat (c—b flat) ? 
3. Does the superfluous second occur in the scale? (In 
the example c, d, e flat, f sharp, g, a fiat, b, c, the 
steps from the third to the fourth, and from the sixth 
to the seventh are superfluous seconds. ) 
Note.—The greatest care should be taken in answering the above ques- 
tions. The music of every nation has certain characteristics of its own. The 
progressions of intervals, the modulations, embellishments, rythmica! effects, 
&e., occurring in the music of extra-Huropean nations are not unfrequently 
too peculiar, to be accurately indicated by means of our musical notation. 
Some additional explanation is therefore required with the notation. In 
writing down the popular tunes of foreign countries on hearing them sung 
or played by the natives, no attempt should be made to rectify anything 
which may appear incorrect to the European ear. The more faithfully the 
apparent defects are preserved, the more valuable is the notation. Attention 
is called to “The Study of National Music” by Mr. CARL ENGEL, in which 
admirable examples of Eastern music committed carefully to European 
notation will be found; notably those on pages 28 & 29 “Cannibal Song of 
the Marquesas Islanders,” and on pages 30, 31 and 32 “Airs of the Zea- 
landers.” A perusal of this work would greatly assist the investigator. 
