MUSIC IN THE DOMINION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21199, 25 June 1934, Page 9

MUSIC IN THE DOMINION

TO THII BDITOB OIT TUB PItESS. Sir,—There was a letter" in your paper about a week ago under the nom-de-plume of "Sympathy" relating •to voice culture, and in his remarks "Sympathy" stated that you could not compare the human voice with instrument's like the trombone, piano, or violin, etc. Now, the human voice is a musical instrument, and it has the advantage of conveying the meaning of a song with the words, which of course places it as the most perfect medium for soul and expression.. But when "Sympathy" says that you cannot compare the human voice with the trombone, the piano, or violin, he is getting a shade mixed. There are three perfect instruments in this world. They are the human voice, the violin or any stringed instrument, and, in brass, the slide trombone. The slide trombone or a violin can in playing a melody produce the same expression as the human voice, as they can slur and make fractional values of a tone that cannot be produced in a mechanical instrument like a piano, or a cornet, or any keyed instrument, which Is tied down to a half tone. Well handled, the slide trombone Is a perfect imitator of the human voice, and is a very ancient instrument. When the towns buried by the great eruption of Mount Vesuvius were excavated; slide trombones were found there with gold mouthpieces. The violin, of course, Is older, and the human voice Is the oldest of the lot, but those three are perfect instruments. wh«n. used. o? course, with dlscre«on,*.»Vours, etc., CHRISTOPHER CO^OMB'CJS. Ashburton, June 22, 1934.