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MUSICAL AND LITERAEY MISCELLANY.
BE AW, BRAW LADS
113
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Wards by lh"'ii-i.
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liraw, braw lads on Vur-row braes, Ye waudL-r thro' tlie bloom - iii;^ heather, But
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Yar - row braes, nor Et - trick shaws, Can match the lads
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Braw, braw lads on Yarrow braes,
Ye wander thro' the blooming lieather ;
But Yarrow braes, nor Ettrick shaws.
Can match the lads o' Galla Water.
But there is ane, a secret ane,
Aboon them a' I loe him better,
And III be his, and he'll be mine,
Tlie bonnie lad o* Galla Water.
Altho' his daddie was nae laird,
And tho' I hae na meikle tocher ;
Yet rich in kindest, trnest love,
We'll tent our flocks by Galla Water.
It ne'er was wealth, it ne'er was wealth,
That coft contentment, peace, or pleasure,
The bands and bliss o' mutual love,
O that's tlie chiefest warld's treasure!
I
SINGING CLASSES IN PARES.
Paris, Jandaby 1 8th, 1840. — Two years ago, while
writing to you from hence, I described the eKbibition
of part-singing, directed by M.Mainzer,in the Place
de I'Estrapade. This time I have been admitted to
the insiJection of thesinging classes among the opera-
tives, organized according to M. Wilhem's system.
* * * A leaf from my journal, in which
is chronicled my Saturday evening's occupation, may
afi'ord some far-off' idea of one of its best features —
namely, its providing adequate and simultaneous
interest and occupation for scholars of every degree,
from the urchin, on his first evening's entrance from
the qaal or alley, progressively upward to the well-
practised monitor, so firm in scientific linowledge,
that he is able not only to read, at sight, a single
solfeggio from Stetl'ani, Durante, and Handel, of any
intricacy, but also to maintain his own part in
proper style and spirit, however complicated be the
whole, of which that part is only a third or a fourth.
The dark, dingy, Halle des Draps, where the
pupils assemble, was tilled with busy, industrious
individuals, and wore an air of animation and
rational enjoyment which was delightful. I was
present at the drilling of a class of men, of all ages,
and, it seemed, of all conditions. When the mo-
ment for commencement arrived, the entire party
No. 15
was separated into twenty or tliirty smaller compa-
nies, each numbering some fifteen or twenty indi-
viduals — each, too, under the guidance of a monitor,
who referred to an exercise board in aid of his
e.'tplanations. Thus arranged, they extended round
the room, leaving its centre free for the superintend-
ent, who, baton and tuning-fork in hand, presided
over their exercises. Nearest the door were the
new^ comers, to whom their monitor was explaining
the numbers of notes in the scale, and their names,
"Do, re, mi," &c. — availing himself, at the same
time, of an ingenious memoria technica, which is one
of the peculiar inventions of M. Wilhem's system,
and in which the fingers, and the spaces between
them, are employed by the neophyte to represent tu
himself the octave and its divisions. The next knot
consisted of those who, having learned their notes,
were reading verbally, not vocally, a scale exercise,
in which some of the simplest divisions of rhythm
and tune were inculcated. A third group was stu-
dying the first intervals — the hand alphabet which
I have mentioned being employed by all, and every
pupil being compelled to read and count his exer-
cise ere he attempt to sing it ; while a fourth party
was taking in fifths, sevenths, ninths, SiC. ; and so
on, until those were progressively reached who were
firm and ready enough to attack a composition in
two or more parts. It was so arranged, that while