25 THE SILVER Eu Risloose A NEW SINGING BOOK FOR SCHOOLS, ACADEMIES, SELECT CLASSES, AND THE SOCIAL CIRCLE, CONTAINING A CHOICE SELECTION OF THE MOST FAVORITE SONGS, DUETTS, TRIOS, QUARTETTES, HYMN-TUNES, CHANTS, AND PIECES FOR CONCERTS AND EXHIBITIONS, ALSO, A COMPLETE COURSE OF Elementary Instruction, with a large number of Exercises suitable for practice. BY CHARLES BUTLER, Teacher of Music in the High and Grammar Schools of Boston and vicinity, and author of the Seminary Bell, 33 Published by S T. GORDON, No. 706 Broadway. Entered, according to Act of Congress, A. D. 1869, By S. T. GORDON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of New-York. M $3 PREFACE. THE author, in presenting this volume to the public, desires to mention some of its prominent features, and the reasons which prompted him to begin the work of preparation. It is obvious that Vocal Music, as an approved branch of common education, is rapidly making its way into the schools and academies of our country, eventually to become one of the educational habits of the mass. The number of schools among us in which music is made one of the regular branches of elementary instruction is already great, and is constantly increasing. We have heard of no case in which with proper training every pupil has not been found capable of acquiring the rudiments of the art, and of interpreting music of ordinary complexity. It has long been supposed that in order to learn to sing, a pupil must be endowed with what is sometimes called a "musical ear.' That this, however, is an error, is evident from experiments which have been made in Germany, and which are being made in this country. The result is, that in this respect, as in many others, there is a great difference in the natural aptitude of scholars. Still all who "can learn to read, can also learn to sing." The knowledge of music therefore must prevail where there are industrious, earnest and intelligent teachers, and the work will be hastened in proportion to the improvement of teachers and text-books. In arranging the elementary portion of this book, the author's desire has been to prepare a work, which in its construction, would be theoretic, lucid, useful, and instructive to pupils. Care has been taken to treat the various topics, briefly perhaps, but with adequate clearness, accompanied by examples, sufficient to elucidate the rules and directions of the text. In the various paragraphs no claim is laid to any new discoveries, but only to the merit of a consistent and correct classification of "Musical terms," together with a large number of exercises, arranged in such a progressive manner as very materially to lessen the labors of both teacher and pupil. In singing the exercises, (or solfaing,) the syllables need not necessarily be changed, inasmuch as the one adaptation (Do always to C., Re to D., &c., regardless of the keynote,) is considered the best system. The music throughout the work has been selected from a great variety of sources, the character of which it is hoped will lead pupils onward to the appreciation of a higher class of music that is now generally used in our Schools, and to form a correct taste and pure style. Most of the pieces are so arranged as to be played with piano accompaniment, a feature which will commend itself to all, and make the work especially welcome to the social circle. Care has been taken that the words accompanying the music should offer no suggestions or associations objectionable to the most fastidious. The publishers would embrace this opportunity of returning thanks to Messrs. Root & Cady, and Messrs. W. A. Pond & Co., for permission to use some of their valuable copyrights 158 My soul to God, my heart to thee, 122 The hour of paring,. 50 Near the banks of that lone river, 178 Never forget the dear ones,.... 152 0, we are volunteers,. 117 Oft in the stilly night,.. 141 The Humming Bird,. 186 The moon is beaming o'er the ......... 52 The Murmuring Poa,. 48 The Stars and Stripes of old,... 82 We're tenting on the Old Camp 104 Welcome to our gallant boys,.. 44 When Johnny comes marching, 91 Why do summer roses fade?.. ........ 89 34 America,.. SACRED PIECES. 248 ............. 2386 245 32 86 Beethoven,.. 140 Calm on the list ning ear,... 229 ΤΟ 148 Charity,. 131 Christmas Carol,. 98 Come ye discousolate,. 197 195 237 75 Dedication Hymn,............. 248 68 Evans,. 246 231 150 Morning and Evening,. 138 Mother dear, O pray for me,... 171 Old Hundred,. 226 288 RUDIMENTS OF MUSIC. DIVISION I. NOTES, STAFF, LETTERS AND CLEFS. SECTION 1. Music is represented by certain characters called notes § 2. Notes are used to indicate the length and pitch of tones. NOTE.-Tone is a given, fixed sound, of certain pitch, and the word cannot properly be used to express the difference of pitch between the first and second tones of the scale. |