Voice and Song.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 39, 23 December 1893, Page 16

Voice and Song.

By G. BARNES

(Teacher of singing, Liddel st., Invercargill). [ail eights reserved.] Ixtrotuctory. Voice cultivation has been a study of mine for the last ten years, and, during that time, I have never heard of a book or article bearing on the subject, but what I either bought or borrowed it in order that I might possess the information it contained. If the cost of my investigations, including payments to teachers and a trip to Italy, the headquarters of song, were summed up, it would amount to some hundreds of pounds; but until very recently I have never relied on this knowledge alone for gaining a livelihood. As a journalist I have frequently brought it into requisition when criticising concerts and operatic performances, but in doing so have always endeavoured to benefit the performers by conscientious advice, when advice, according to my experience, was necessary for improvement. A musical critic’s life, however, like that of a policeman, is not altogether a very happy one. It wasn’t in my case. I was always careful to write approvingly when I considered that praise was honestly earned ; but somehow I never succeeded in getting proper allowance made by vocalists for these efforts at impartiality—and newspaper pro prietors are but human in spite of their exalted position. A good few of them are like some members of Parliament, ever ready to alter their policy when the reasons put forward for so doing are sufficiently weighted and skilfully directed. Still, in spite of cruel ingratitude on the one hand, and disgustingly unmerited reproaches on the other, I can truthfully assert that I shall never regret the time nor the money spent on the improvement of my voice for the purpose of song. Ability in better understanding and appreciating the compositions of great masters has more than compensated me for the exasperating injustice of employers or the malignant revilings of outraged incompetency; but beyond all else I am'.grateful to my instructors in singing for the continual enjoyment of vigorous health.. In writing the series of articles which will follow these remarks, I therefore want it remembered that I am actuated by these two results in my own case—to bring about, if I can, a more extended desire for voice culture than that which now prevails—apart altogether from my hope that the information afforded will be useful to those who are anxious for instruction as a means to vocal improvement. I am convinced that when the organs employed in the production of voice are rightly understood and properly exercised we shall very rarely hear of the chest diseases now unhappily so common, and in saying that I feel sure my conviction will be endorsed by every member of the medical profession in Invercargill.