110 
No. LXVIIL—MUSIC. By CAUL ENGEL, Esq. 
The music of every nation has certain characteristics of its 
own. The progressions of intervals, the modulations, em¬ 
bellishments, rhythmical effects, &c. occurring in the music of 
extra-European 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 any thing which may appear incorrect to the 
European ear. The more faithfully the apparent defects are 
preserved, the more valuable is the notation. Collections of 
popular tunes (with the words of the airs) are very desirable. 
Likewise drawings of musical instruments, with explanations 
respecting the construction, dimensions, capabilities, and em¬ 
ployment of the instruments represented. 
Vocal Music. —1. Are the people fond of music P 2. Is their 
ear acute for discerning small musical intervals ? 3. Can they 
easily hit a tone which is sung or played to them ? 4. Is their 
voice flexible ? 5. What is the quality of the voice P is it 
loud or soft, clear or rough, steady or tremulous ? 6. What is 
the usual compass of the voice ? 7. Which is the prevailing- 
male voice—tenor, barytone, or bass ? 8. Which is the pre¬ 
vailing female voice—soprano or alto ? 9. Do the people gene¬ 
rally sing without instrumental accompaniment ? 10. Have 
they songs performed in chorus by men only, or by women 
only, or by both sexes together? 11. When the people sing- 
together, do they sing in unison or in harmony, or with the 
occasional introduction of some drone accompaniment of the 
voice ? 12. Is their singing in regular time, or does it partake 
of the character of the recitative ? 13. Have they songs for 
solo and chorus , or with an air for a single voice and a burden 
(or refrain) for a number of voices ? 14. Describe the different 
kinds of songs which they have (such as sacred songs, war songs, 
love songs, nursery songs, &c.), with remarks on the poetry. 
Instruments. —15. What are their instruments of percussion 
(such as drums, castanets, rattles, cymbals, gongs, bells, &c.) P 
16. Have they instruments of percussion containing sonorous 
slabs of wood, glass, stone, metal, &c.,upon which tunes can be 
played ? if so, write down in notation or in letters the tones 
