Music Is Not for Insects

This was printed on the back of a choir anthem we sang today at my church. I was taken by the timeless truth of these observations from The Sacred Harp, first published in 1844.

General Observations on Singing

Persons may be well acquainted with all the various characters in music; they may also be able to sing their part in true time, and yet their performance be far from pleasing; if it is devoid of necessary embellishments, their manner and bad expression may conspire to render it disagreeable. A few plain hints, and a few general and friendly observations, we hope, will tend to correct their errors in practising vocal music.

Care should be taken that all the parts (when singing together) begin upon the proper pitch. If the parts are not united by their corresponding degrees, the whole piece may be run into confusion and jargon before it ends.

It is by no means necessary, to constitute good singers, that they should sing very loud, and if the singers of any one are so loud that they cannot hear the other parts, because of their own noise, the parts are surely not rightly proportioned, and ought to be altered.

In applying the words, great care should be taken that they be properly pronounced, and not torn to pieces between the teeth, nor forced through the nose.

The superiority of vocal to instrumental music is that while one only pleases the ear, the other informs the understanding.

Too long singing at a time injures the lungs. A cold or cough, all kind of spiritous liquors, violent exercise, too much bile on the stomach, long fasting, the veins overcharged with impure blood, etc. etc., are destructive to the voice of one who is much in the habit of singing. An excessive use of ardent spirits will speedily ruin the best voice.

There should not be any noise indulged in while singing (except music), as it destroys the beauty of harmony, and renders the performance very difficult, and if it is designedly promoted, is nothing less than a proof of disrespect in the singers to the exercise, to themselves who occasion it, and to the Author of our existence.

How hard it is to make some believe soft singing is the most melodious; when, at the same time, loud singing is more like the hootings of the midnight bird than refined music.

All affectation should be banished, for it is disgusting in the performance of sacred music, and contrary to that solemnity which should accompany an exercise so near akin to that which will, through all eternity, engage the attention of those who walk in climes of bliss.

If singers, when performing a piece of music, could be as much captivated with the words and sounds as the author of the music is when composing it, the foregoing directions would be almost useless.

We should therefore endeavor to improve the talent given us, and try to sing with the spirit and with the understanding, making melody in our hearts to the Lord.

-From THE SACRED HARP, 1844