MUSIC HARMONY.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1889, Page 2

MUSIC HARMONY.

TO THE EDITOE. Sir — The recognition of the efforts of young people is always desirable, and great and deserved attention has been drawn to the successful issue of the studies in harmony of the young musical students of Wellington, for which they received prize certificates from Trinity College, London, at the hands of the Governor of New Zealand. The names of more gontlemen students should have been on the list, as harmony is essentially the grammar of the language of music, without a knowledge of which it is impossible to understand music correctly, to compose, or even to read music with facility, as it enables us at a glance to see the formation of whole lines of musio, often the entire page. It elevates the oharaoter and increases our appreciation of the art of music, preventing the repetition of wrong notes, and drawing attention to the marks of expression, propor use of the pedah, &c. —in fact, forming musical taste. Harmony is the sworn foe to the indulgence of bad temper ; the musical student feeling cross and irritable, instead of saying disagreeable things, flies to music, and unpleasant thoughts quickly disappear ; and to show still more the magic of music, all around will have become equally as agreeable and well pleased. Practise all kinds of music, classical as well as musio of a lighter kind. That variety is charming applies most forcibly to the enjoyment of music's sweet sounds, and materially aids the cause of musical progress, but above all things study the laws of harmony. — I am, &c, J. Hyde Parker. Featherston.