Scan 105
The American history and encyclopedia of music .., 1908
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1But, it may be said, the history of music is taught in our colleges and universities; students pass examinations and graduate in it. So it is; but they learn little about the earlier forms of the art besides names and dates; they have practically no chance to get acquainted with the music. Few of the teachers have ever heard any. They speak about it, quoting the opinions of "authorities" who have studied the subject as much as they thought necessary to write a text-book, but far too superficially to get any real knowledge. Only a small amount of old music is at all accessible outside of European museums, and that mostly in corrupt editions. The instruments for which that music was made, and without which it cannot be realized, are only just beginning to be understood and studied practically. Thus it is that the largest part of the Art of Music still remains a closed book to musicians.
3I have been investigating this subject for twenty years. I have not gone far, for it is a vast undertaking, but I have seen enough to convince myself that the study of the old music is a most pressing need. It will bring to light works of art of unsurpassed beauty; it will help us to understand the music of the present, and establish the only safe foundation for future developments of the art.
5The following instruments would be required: two lutes; a complete "chest of viols," composed of two trebles, two tenors and two basses; a violone; one or two viole d'Amore; a clavichord; a harpsichord with two keyboards and a full complement of stops. No doubt, wind instruments would also be wanted, but the above would be sufficient to begin with. The study of these instruments is fascinating. Gifted students could easily be induced to play upon them, and there is no doubt that the subject, once started, would quickly develop and give valuable results.
7One of the chief difficulties in the way of a Musical Renaissance is now removed. It was almost impossible formerly to get an old instrument in really good order.
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