A lesson in music (c1748)
What did the singing teachers of the mid-1700s teach their schools? These images from the preface of The Voice of Melody, published by William East of Waltham around 1748 (first edition), may give some clues. (Each page will open in a separate window.)
- Title page (83K)
- '... A Course of Singing-Psalms for Half a Year' – suggestions of what to sing and when for each of the three services customary on Sundays (80K)
- 'The Gamut, which is the Foundation and Ground of all Musick' – naming the notes, plus voice ranges (60K)
- 'Examples of Flats ... Examples of Sharps' – plus instructions (in verse) on how to pitch the music by finding 'mi' (88K)
- 'A Lesson in Musick, in A Sharp Key' – includes solmisation letters, and indications of beating time (80K)
- 'Notes and Characters of Time, Explained' – including a verse describing how to beat time 'with hand or foot, ... and sometimes thought' (83K)
- 'The Gamut display'd in Seven Parts' – a complicated chart showing keys on treble clef, five C-clefs and bass clef, and how to find your 'mi' in each one (original is poorly printed) (95K)
- 'A Universal Table of Transposition' – how to transpose from one key to another (90K)
- 'A Table of Cords and Discords' (80K)
- 'Goadby Tune, Psalm I ... set by William East' ... 'Eaton Tune, Psalm IV ... set by William Knapp' – some music to test your new skills! (100K)
