MUSIC AS A BRANCH OF COMMON EDUCATION.

In a former number of the Annals,* we stated that Vocal Music was deemed an essential branch of common school education in Germany and Switzerland, and enjoined as such by the governments of those countries; and gave a specimen of the music employed for this purpose.

The immediate object to be accomplished, is to perfect one of our senses, to exercise an important set of organs, and, in short, to cultivate one of those faculties which our Greator has seen fit to give us. To neglect it, is to imply that it was unnecessary; that it is useless. It is to treat a noble gift in a manner which involves ingratitude to the Giver.

In this case also, as in others, the invariable law of Providence is, that the employment of our faculties is important to their preservation and perfection. Singing is of no small value, as a mere physical exercise of the vocal organs, which invigorates the lungs, and thus promotes the health of the whole frame. Dr. Rush observes, that it is a means of protection from the pulmonary diseases so common in our climate; and adduces as a fact in confirmation of this opinion, that the Germans in the circle of his practice were seldom afflicted with consumption, and that he had never known but a single instance of spitting blood among them. He ascribes this to the strength which their lungs acquire, by exercising them in vocal music, which constitutes an essential branch of their education. He had even known singing employed with success as a means of arresting the progress of pulmonary complaints.

But the ultimate objects in cultivating vocal music are those for which it was obvious this gift was bestowed. The first and the highest is, to unite with our fellow men, in expressing our gratitude and love to our Heavenly Father. In doing this we rouse and excite our own devotional feelings, and stir up each other to new life in the worship of God. For these purposes, God himself commanded the use of music, in the Israelitish * See Monthly Repository, &c. for April, page 363

church. Indeed, he has written this law on the hearts of men. Scarcely a temple or a service has existed in the world, except among the Mahometans, in which music did not occupy an important place. In this view the subject is of great importance. The defects in our church music are felt as well as admitted by all; and no thorough change can take place, but in acting on the rising generation.

But it has other important uses, which are not so generally appreciated. There are periods of exhaustion, and there must be hours of relaxation and repose in the life of all, from the prince to the peasant, when we need some innocent amusement to employ and interest, without wearying, and to exclude improper occupations: and this necessity is greater in proportion as the intellect is less cultivated. There are moments of physical debility or moral discouragement, when the mind is almost incapable of operating upon itself. At such seasons, music is of great utility. It is, perhaps, the only employment which leaves the intellect wholly in repose, and on this account, is peculiarly important to literary men. In fact, it forms the relaxation of considerable numbers of those on the continent of Europe.*

The popular vocal music introduced of late years in Germany and Switzerland is peculiarly adapted to these objects. Without being trifling, it is cheering and animated. Without being directly religious, or even didactic, it presents ordinary subjects under an aspect fitted to excite the nobler feelings, to elevate the thoughts above the world, and kindle the feelings of devotion. It comprises songs on the various objects and phenomena of nature-the rising sun-the rolling thunder-the still evening-the rich harvest-and presents something applicable to every circumstance of

* A distinguished professor of the island of Sicily, on hearing the sad tale of the influence of study on our literary men, inquired what were their amusements. I was only able to answer-Ñone. He expressed his astonishment, and added, "No wonder they die of study." He informed me that he spent a given portion of the day in practising instrumental and vocal music; and thought he could not live without the relief which they afforded his mind.

life. It thus associates common occurrences and objects with the most elevated feelings, and every view of nature calls forth the notes of pleasure, and the song of praise to its Author. Such exercises are undoubtedly often mechanical at first, but their repetition cultivates the feelings they describe. It leaves an impress of softness, and produces a tendency upwards, which are useful to all, and it is of peculiar importance to those for whom it is generally deemed superfluous, I mean, whose minds are chiefly occupied with providing for the immediate necessities of life, and who are conversant with its ruder elements.

A passage of Vehrli's journal of his school at Hofwyl, presents a very interesting example of the influence of this species of music. "The last autumn I

was walking with my children by moonlight-' How beautiful the moon rises, and shines red over the lake,” said one of them. Another instantly began singing the hymn

and all joined in chorus. The last summer, at the approach of a storm, they often sung the hymn beginning

"God thunders, but I nothing fear."

They selected, as appropriate to the marked divisions of time, the hymn which begins—

"The days that Heaven allows us here,

How swiftly do they fly;"

and sung it frequently at the close of the week;" The visitor at Hofwyl may often hear them sing, in going or returning from their labours, especially at the unseasonable hours sometimes necessary for securing the harvest in this variable climate; and thus cheering their toils, and elevating their thoughts and feelings above the little inconveniencies and hardships they endured. A number of commissioners who visited the establishment, observe that they, like most other strangers, could not hear the music of these pupils without the deepest emotion. The greater part of them know by heart a hundred religious and popular hymns. Vehrli

himself, observes, that he has uniformly found, that in proportion as vocal music was improved, a kind and devotional spirit was promoted among his pupils.

In furnishing an amusement of this kind, we shall divert from others of a doubtful or injurious character. In giving young men such a means of innocent excitement, by music appropriate to their age and feelings, we diminish the temptation of resorting to stimulating liquors, and other questionable modes of producing cheerfulness. The editor has known and visited a village in Switzerland, where a set of drunken, disorderly young men were led, by the cultivation of vocal music among them, to an entire exterior reformation, which was regarded with as much surprise as the change in regard to temperance in our own country. He has seen them, when they met at a public house, resort to this method of raising their spirits, instead of drinking, and amuse themselves with singing songs and hymns adapted to improve the mind and elevate the heart, instead of the profane or indecent conversation or noisy clamour which is generally heard on such occasions.

But, aside from this benefit, music, of itself, has an effect which cannot be doubted, in softening and elevating the character. It diminishes the strength of the passions by keeping them, for a time at least, in a state of inaction. It counteracts them, by producing the opposite and softer feelings.

In addition to this, the study of music, from its very nature, cultivates the habits of order, and obedience, and union. All must follow a precise rule; all must act together, and in obedience to a leader; and the habit acquired in one part of our pursuits necessarily affects others.

On all these accounts, vocal music has no small influence on school discipline. We were struck with the superior order and kindly aspect of the German schools in comparison with our own, and ascribed it not a little to the cultivation of music in them. Those who unite in singing with their fellows and their master, will be more disposed to be kind to the one and obedient to the other.

SKETCH OF MILTON.

MILTON stood apart from all earthly things. He may be likened to that interpreter of the mysterious things of Providence, who sits in the bright circle of the sun; while Shakspeare resembles rather the spirit created by his own matchless imagination, which wanders over earth and sea, with power to subdue all minds and hearts by the influence of his magic spell. The poetry of Milton is accordingly solemn and dignified, as well becomes the moral sublimity of his character, and the sacredness of his awful theme. His mind appears to have been elevated by the glories revealed to his holy contemplation; and his inspiration is as much loftier than that of other poets, as his subject was superior to theirs. It is superfluous to say, that his moral influence is always pure; for how could it be otherwise with such a mind, always conversant with divine things, and filled with the.sublimest thoughts? Yet it has been sometimes said, that the qualities with which he has endued that most wonderful of all poetical creations, the leader of the fallen angels, are too fearfully sublime to be regarded with the horror and aversion, which they ought naturally to inspire. He is indeed invested with many sublime attributes ;-the fierce energy, unbroken by despair-the unconquerable will, which not even the thunders of the Almighty can bend ;-but these qualities, though they may fill us with wonder and awe, are not attractive. His tenderness is only the bitterness of remorse, without end and hopeless; his self-devotion is only the result of wild ambition; and a dreadful retribution at length falls upon him, ' according to his doom.' In this exhibition of character, there is undoubtedly vast intellectual power, but there is nothing redeeming, nothing which can win the soul to love. We dread the effect of those delineations in which crime, from which nature recoils, is allied to qualities, with which we involuntarily sympathise; such portraits are of evil tendency, because though unnatural, they are still attractive; but great crime frequently supposes the existence of imposing traits of character, which may excite admiration, with