COMPASS of voice consists in the power of uttering tones from a low to a high pitch. This varies in individuals, but may be very much increased by practice. EXERCISE ON COMPASS. Let the pupil pronounce the following words in tones. successively from the lowest to the highest capacity of his voice, according to the scale of music. Let him go on as much higher or lower than the model, as he can. At every new effort, the compass of the voice will increase. MODEL. 12-sol o-holy, holy, holy, holy. 1-do o-holy, holy, holy, holy. High up the hill he hies. Man marks the earth with ruin. Round the old home he roams. Roll on, thou dark blue ocean, roll. Thy shores are empires, changed in all save thee. O sailor boy, woe to thy dream of delight! O sailor boy, sailor boy, never again Shall home, love, or kindred, thy wishes repay! NOTE. The two exercises preceding this, have been also exercises on compass. But the teacher can easily supply any number of additional examples he may choose. Pages 147, 148, 173, 183, and many others of this book, furnish appropriate examples. QUANTITY. Quantity is the force of utterance, or stress of voice. It has no reference to high or low tones, and must be carefully distinguished from them. On the same pitch, the utterance may vary in all degrees, between the softest and loudest tones. Practice will increase this power almost indefinitely. EXERCISE ON QUANTITY. Practice each word and sentence, as indicated in the model, commencing with the softest and passing on gradually to the loudest utterance, retaining the same pitch, and dwelling on the vowel sound. aw aw aw aw aw aw aw aw aw aw aw aw NOTE.-The teacher will readily find additional exercises in almost any part of this book. It is recommended also that the examples given in the exercises on pitch be practiced under this head. REMARK.-Fear, caution, awe, reverence, and tender and solemn emotions, generally require soft tones: the narrative, argumentative, didactic styles, medium loudness; and passion, and great excitement, loud tones. It must be taken for granted, however, that, with a moderate degree of judgment and practice, the pupil will naturally adapt his voice to the subject. A few examples are given as specimens. EXERCISE ON SOFT TONES. Tread softly! bow the head! In reverent silence bow! Yet an immortal soul Is passing now. For the remainder, see McGuffey's New High School Reader, page 457. I have seen angels by the sick one's pillow; Theirs was the soft tone and the soundless tread, For the rest of this, see McGuffey's New High School Reader, page 480. EXERCISE ON LOUD TONES. Ye sons of France, awake to glory! Hark! Hark! what myriads bid you rise! Shall hateful tyrants, mischief breeding, Affright and desolate the land, While liberty and peace lie bleeding? To arms! to arms! ye brave! The avenging sword unsheathe! March on march on all hearts resolved On victory or death! For the rest of this, see McGuffey's New High School Reader, page 125. Additional exercises may be found on the following pages of this book. Soft tones, pages 120, 150, 186, 222, 223, 226, 227. REMARK.-The element of Time, or Movement, is some times included under Quantity. This refers to the rapidity of utterance, which depends upon the time given to the vowel sounds and upon the length of the pauses. The preceding exercises may be used for practice in Movement, by repeating them in all variations of time, from the slowest to the most rapid. QUALITY. QUALITY denotes the kind of sound. By this, chiefly, we distinguish different voices, and not by pitch or quantity. A number of singers may utter successively a few notes of music on the same key and with the same loudness, and yet their voices will be easily distinguished by their different quality. Certain qualities should be cultivated, others, avoided. Those which should be chiefly cultivated are the Pure, the Orotund, the Aspirated, and the Whispering Tones. PURE TONE. A PURE TONE is one that is deep, round, sweet, and clear. This should form a great portion of most discourse. In cultivating it, let the following faults be carefully corrected. 1. A nasal tone, of all tones the most disgusting. 2. A guttural tone, or a kind of obstructed utterance from the throat. This may be occasionally admissible, but is incompatible with purity. 3. An aspirated, or half whispering tone. This has its place in the expression of certain emotions, but when in any degree habitual, destroys purity of tone. NOTE. As a great portion of most kinds of style should be spoken in this tone, particular exercises are considered unnecessary. For special exercises, if such are desired, see pages 54, 81, . 147, 148, 159, 239, 240, of this book. OROTUND TONE. The OROTUND TONE combines great volume and strength with purity. It takes its name from the manner in which it is uttered, viz., ore rotundo, or with a round, widely opened mouth. It is used in impassioned style, and forms the perfection of voice. Great care should be taken to cultivate this. In practicing, the voice should come from the throat, the mouth should be opened wide, the tongue kept down, the aperture left round and free for the voice, and the vowel sound dwelt upon, as when one shouts "a-ye," or "ship a-hoy," or "f—i—re.” EXERCISE ON THE OROTUND. It is vain to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry peace! peace! but there is no peace. The war is actually begun. The next gale that sweeps from the north, will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms. Our brethren are already in the field. Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God. I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death. Sir, before God I believe the hour is come. My judgment approves this measure; and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope, in this life, I am now ready to stake upon it; and I leave off, as I began, that, live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment; and, by the blessing of God, it shall be my dying sentiment;-independence now, and independence for ever. NOTE. All the speeches in this book of an emotional character, are exercises in this tone. ASPIRATED TONE. The ASPIRATED TONE is a kind of half whisper, or rough breathing. |