| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
The National Music of America. 69
tion was probably limited to the singing-school, but this in nowise dismayed him, for he believed (as Schumann did in his early days) that natural taste would guide the true musician in composition, without the necessity of studying any rules ; indeed, he states this fact in the preface of his book, as follows :
" To all Musical Practitioners.
" Perhaps it may be expected by some, that I should say something concerning Rules for Composition ; to these I answer that Nature is the best dictator, for all the hard dry studied rules that ever were prescribed, will not enable any person to form an Air. ... It must be Nature, Nature must lay the foundation, Nature must inspire the thought. . . . For my own part, as I don't think myself confined to any rules of Composition laid down by any that went before me, neither should I think (were I to pretend to lay down rules) that any who come after me were any ways obligated to adhere to them, any further than they should think proper. So in fact I think it is best for every Composer to be his own Carver."
Governor Samuel Adams and Doctor Pierce, of Brookline, took great interest in the enthusiastic choir singer and composer. The |
||