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Article RULES FOR THE GERMAN FLUTE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article ANECDOTE OF THE LATE MR. WHISTON. Page 1 of 1
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Rules For The German Flute.
rhe German Flute , who are never guilty , perhaps , of playing out of tune , in the common gradation from one note to another : and they must not take it amiss , as if I meant to reflect on the goodness of thenear ; which , to say the truth , Iras but little to do in this case ; for thou ° -h the ear must determine whether the octave be in tune or not , still a proper exertion of the breath , even in all parts of the gamut , depends habit and and
upon practice : no one can deserve the name of a player , who is not sure of the pitch ofhis note , before he makes the experiment ! Endeavour to express the notes distinctl y , and yet in such a manner ^ as not to make a noise with the tongue . I have often wondered why masters insist so much on the use of the tongue ; for I know by experiencethat the breath alone willin most instancesthrow out
, , , the notes with more softness a great deal , and , as distinctly to the full . This method may , perhaps , be attended with some defects which I am not aware of ; and therefore I would not be thought to insist upon it , as a point beyond debate . 1 have known it tried with success , in a general way , and have always considered it as one means of guarding the face of the player from unseemly distortions ; which are often
introduced , I believe , by using the tongue ; and ought certainl y to be avoided as much as possible . It is the observation of Mr . Geminiani , that strength , and delicacy , and expression , are much surer marks of taste in playing , than a thousand favourite passages and graces . This observation must undoubtedly hold good in every instrument that admits of expression , and in than
no one more the German Flute ; which should always be considered as a counterfeit voice , and be treated as such ; for which reason Italian songs , Venetian ballads , Scotch tunes , and compositions of the cantabile kind , are best suited to this instrument ; and they who aim hi gher , and cannot be content with lessons of this low class , musthave recourse for better musick , and more variet y , to the fiddle or the Great
harpsichord . execution , indeed , on any instrument , is by no means a merit of the first rank , nor absolutely requisite towards forming the character of a good player ; anymore than it is necessary to vie with a harlequin , iu order to dance gracefully . Yet execution has its beauties , where the instrument will admit of it . The German Flute will not ; and therefore it is a point to be g iven up , by those who mean to consult its real excellence . J . S .
Anecdote Of The Late Mr. Whiston.
ANECDOTE OF THE LATE MR . WHISTON .
/ XT-IE late King , it is well known , was fond of old Whiston : he was - " walking with him one day in Hampton Court gardens during the . heat of his persecutions . " Mr . Whiston , " said lie , " you may perhaps be ri ght in your opinions , but it would be better if you kept them to yourself . "— " Is your Majesty really serious iu your advice r " asked the old man . " I am ' , " replied the King : — " Then , " said Whiston , " J am sorry for it : —had Martin Luther been of your way of thinking , where would your Majesty have been at this time ? "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Rules For The German Flute.
rhe German Flute , who are never guilty , perhaps , of playing out of tune , in the common gradation from one note to another : and they must not take it amiss , as if I meant to reflect on the goodness of thenear ; which , to say the truth , Iras but little to do in this case ; for thou ° -h the ear must determine whether the octave be in tune or not , still a proper exertion of the breath , even in all parts of the gamut , depends habit and and
upon practice : no one can deserve the name of a player , who is not sure of the pitch ofhis note , before he makes the experiment ! Endeavour to express the notes distinctl y , and yet in such a manner ^ as not to make a noise with the tongue . I have often wondered why masters insist so much on the use of the tongue ; for I know by experiencethat the breath alone willin most instancesthrow out
, , , the notes with more softness a great deal , and , as distinctly to the full . This method may , perhaps , be attended with some defects which I am not aware of ; and therefore I would not be thought to insist upon it , as a point beyond debate . 1 have known it tried with success , in a general way , and have always considered it as one means of guarding the face of the player from unseemly distortions ; which are often
introduced , I believe , by using the tongue ; and ought certainl y to be avoided as much as possible . It is the observation of Mr . Geminiani , that strength , and delicacy , and expression , are much surer marks of taste in playing , than a thousand favourite passages and graces . This observation must undoubtedly hold good in every instrument that admits of expression , and in than
no one more the German Flute ; which should always be considered as a counterfeit voice , and be treated as such ; for which reason Italian songs , Venetian ballads , Scotch tunes , and compositions of the cantabile kind , are best suited to this instrument ; and they who aim hi gher , and cannot be content with lessons of this low class , musthave recourse for better musick , and more variet y , to the fiddle or the Great
harpsichord . execution , indeed , on any instrument , is by no means a merit of the first rank , nor absolutely requisite towards forming the character of a good player ; anymore than it is necessary to vie with a harlequin , iu order to dance gracefully . Yet execution has its beauties , where the instrument will admit of it . The German Flute will not ; and therefore it is a point to be g iven up , by those who mean to consult its real excellence . J . S .
Anecdote Of The Late Mr. Whiston.
ANECDOTE OF THE LATE MR . WHISTON .
/ XT-IE late King , it is well known , was fond of old Whiston : he was - " walking with him one day in Hampton Court gardens during the . heat of his persecutions . " Mr . Whiston , " said lie , " you may perhaps be ri ght in your opinions , but it would be better if you kept them to yourself . "— " Is your Majesty really serious iu your advice r " asked the old man . " I am ' , " replied the King : — " Then , " said Whiston , " J am sorry for it : —had Martin Luther been of your way of thinking , where would your Majesty have been at this time ? "