SIR MORELL MACKENZIE ON "SPEECH AND SONG."

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7263, 24 January 1889, Page 5

SIR MORELL MACKENZIE ON "SPEECH AND SONG."

At the Philosophical Institute, Edinburgh/ recently, .-Sir Morell Mackenzie delivered his lecture on "Speech and Song." The hall was densely crowded, nearly 3000 persons being present. Mr John R. Fin_ay presided. Sir Morell, in his preliminary remarks, said he accepted their Invitation with some hesitation, for when he received it he was at Chariottetiburg, in a position of unexampled difficulty and responsibility. He could not say that he was partacularly sensitive to criticism;, bat it was gratifying to him to find that, whatever others might say, in " de&r old Scotland," the home and cradle of his forbears, his countrymen stood by him. (Cheers.) Proceeding with his lecture, he observed that, though it was highly probable that discordant sounds -preceded speech, there was no doubt that singing, as an act, was a later development than articulate speech, without which, in fact, it would be impossible. He agreed witDarwin that the " primeval use and means of development of the voice was to charm the hearts of coy females by howls and grunts" intended to be attractive. But other emotions had to be expressed. Joy, anger, tear, and pain had all to find utterance, and the nerve centres, excited by these various stimuli, threw _1 the muscles of the body into violent contraction, which in the case of those of the chest and larynx produced sound. These movements, at first accidental and purposeless, might in time have' become inseparably associated with the emotional state giving rise to them, so as to coincide with it, and thereby serve as an -index or expression ol it. From this it was an easy step to the vjluntary emission of vocal sounds. Every system of vocal instruction should aim at strengthening the power of the voice, to increase its compass and purify its tone; and, above all, to give the speaker full control over it - even in the whirlwind of oratorical pttaeioa. While he held it to be dealrable that speakers should learn to sing, he believed •it to be far more •necessary that singers should learn to speak. Tobacco and all - fiery condiments should be eschewed by those who had to speak mt—-t, or should be used in moderation. The supposed mix&culo—i possets and draughts on which some orators pinned their faith existed mainly in the imagination of those who used them. The immediate good done by stimulant- was dearly purchased by the thickening and roughening of the mucous —trface which they caused. Training was import-—t to bring out the full power of the compass of the singing voice. Itcou_d__>tbeeo-__tM—sed too early. The ait was chiefly learned by imitation, and it was a pity to.lose the advantage of early years, when that faculty was most highly developed. A singer who wished to keep himself In good voice should rise, if not exactly with his brother minstrel the lark, afc least pretty early—say, before eight in the morning; should take plenty of exercise in the open air; and should harden his constitution by leading, as far as possible, a healthy outdoor life. Nothing gave richness and volume to the voice like vigorous health. In the good old days, or even fifty years ago, no singer ever thought to attain eminence unless ho gave six, seven, or eight years to training. He did not believe that there was any. defideney of good voices at present, and he waa convinced that tbe rarity of voice of. the finest quality was due to the very short training which was given. The want of good teachers would be generally admitted. Anyone who couldeinga little himself, or had a slight smattering of music, thought himself quite competent <to teach. In the old days teachers gave themselves up entirely to their pupils, and day after day they worked tat them and with them.

A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Sir Morrell at the close of the lectors.