chest high and active during the singing of the vowel, making the entire movement from the abdomen. 6. Blending of tone. Inhale deeply, and exhale on singing oo, o, and ah, blending them into one continuous stream of voice. The transitions from one vowel to the other should be very gradual. In this exercise the tone will seem to go forward of its own accord, and the student should assist this tendency. 7. Shock of the glottis. This exercise is to be practised with care and very moderately at first. Strike the voice softly but clearly on the element hup, taking a breath between each stroke. Keep to one pitch at a time, without the slightest variation. After a few strokes have been made in bright, clear tone, change to other pitches until the entire scale has been covered. This is a valuable exercise for clarifying the voice. As in previous exercises, the breath must not be heard. Repeat this exercise in the elements he, ha, haw, hah, ho, and hoo. Take one element at a time and master it before proceeding to the next. Practise very slowly at first, but as facility is gained the speed may be increased. EXAMPLES FOR PRACTISE IN PURE TONE The following extracts contain a large number of open liquid sounds, and will be found useful in securing pure quality of voice. They should be read aloud, standing, with special regard to this quality, while endeavoring to apply the results of the previous exercises. To distinguish pure quality of tone may at first be difficult, but the student should persevere until the ear is trained to discern the slightest waste of breath during voice production. 2. Blow, blow, thou winter wind, As man's ingratitude; Although thy breath be rude. Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly: This life is most jollly. Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, Thou dost not bite so nigh Though thou the waters warp, As friend remember'd not. Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly: Then, heigh-ho! the holly! This life is most jolly. "As You Like It." SHAKESPEARE. 3. Our bugles sang truce, for the night-clouds had lower'd, When reposing that night on my pallet of straw Methought from the battle-field's dreadful array To the home of my fathers, that welcomed me back. I flew to the pleasant fields traversed so oft In life's morning march, when my bosom was young, I heard my own mountain-goats bleating aloft, Then pledged we the wine-cup, and fondly I swore And my wife sobb'd aloud in her fulness of heart. "Stay-stay with us!-rest!-thou art weary and worn!”— And fain was their war-broken soldier to stay;But sorrow return'd with the dawning of morn, And the voice in my dreaming ear melted away. "The Soldier's Dream." THOMAS CAMPBELL. 4. Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) An angel writing in a book of gold. Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, "What writest thou?''-The vision raised its head, Answer'd, "The names of those who love the Lord." The angel wrote, and vanish'd. The next night It came again with a great wakening light, LEIGH HUNT. 5. Full many a glorious morning have I seen Yet him for this my love no whit disdaineth; Suns of the world may stain, when heaven's sun staineth. Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day, Ah! but those tears are pearl, which thy love sheds, No more be grieved at that which thou hast done: |