MUSICAL ACCENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 33, 15 May 1891, Page 11

MUSICAL ACCENT.

Tom Cook was subpoenaed as a witness. Oq cross-examination by Sir James Scarlet, he was asked, ' What is a musical accent V ' My terms are a guinea a lesson,' said Cook. A loud laugh followed. Sir James, who was rather ruffled, said, ' Never mind yojar terms here— l ask you what is a musical accent. Can you see it V 'No.' ' Can you feel it V ' A musician can.' Gri:at l»ughter. ' Now, pray, sir,' said Sir James, very angry, ' don't beat about the bush, but explaH to his lordship .ud the jury, who are supposed to know nothing about music the meariog of what you call accent. ' Accent in music is a certain stress laid upon a particular note in the same manner as you would lay a stress upon any given word, for the purpose of being better understood. Thus, if 1 were to say, you are a donkey; itreas on donkey ; but if I were to say, • Tow are a donkey,' it rests on yon, Sir J.ims«." BieterUed shouts cf laughter by the whole court, in which the bench itself joined, followed this repartee. Silence bem^ restored, the judge, with much seeming gravity, accosved the crestfallen counsel thus. ' Are you satisfied, Sir James?' Sir Jame-i, ia a great huff, said, ' The witness m»y go dowa 1' — Exchange