Excerpt from Polyhymnia: A Collection of Quartets and Choruses for Male Voices

Schools differ greatly in the musical talent of the singers and in the range of voices. It may be necessary for the teacher or director to change the pitch slightly to accommodate the particular conditions that may exist. This can easily be done to help the second Bass or the first Tenor, as the case may be.

The melodic principle in writing is largely employed, so that chromatic difficulties may be reached in the simplest manner, and this in a way that will not detract from rich harmonic effects.

To a very large extent the resort to unison singing for several notes, here and there, by two or more parts has been avoided, as the editor believes that the harmonic combinations should be sustained where possible, and that independent parts should be presented to as great an extent as may be. The alternate thinness and fulness of harmony produced by this unison work is always a detriment to the musical effect. Voices may be brought together designedly for strong melodic passages, but this should only be allowed for such purposes. In a number of instances, the first and second Tenors sing in unison both for ease in singing and for the strengthening of the melody. This is done in such a manner that little will be lost by the arrangement. Where Tenor solo parts are introduced, the other voices must be made subordinate. A careful observance of the contrasts indicated by the words Solo, Soli, Quartet, and Tutti is indispensable, and this will add greatly to the pleasure of both singers and listeners.

The great variety in the character of the compositions will make them attractive. Among the songs will be found many familiar melodies in a new dress - retaining, however, the composers' harmonies.

This book has five parts, or divisions. Part I. Comprises easy works arranged in a somewhat progressive order. Part II. Leads into a wider range and greater difficulties. The musical problems are not, however, extreme, and can easily be overcome by smal' bodies of singers.

It will be seen from the index that the ordinary public days are provided for, and there is also a large number of national songs with their appropriate words. These characteristic types are interesting.

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