common scale, a plaintive expression is constantly heart when the third and fourth, or seventh and eighth note: are sounded in immediate succession; and if the voice slide through the concrete interval of a semitone it will have a plaintive expression, whether it ascends or descends. The converse is true, or, in other words, whenever a plaintive expression is heard in speech the voice moves through the slide of a semitone.

Let a plaintive or mournful expression be given to the word I, but to no other, in the following sentence, and that word will exhibit the rising slide of a semitone, the contrast of which with the slides of a tone, upon each of the other syllables, will be very striking. "I will be a good boy."

Let the word "boy" be rendered plaintive or mournful with a fall of the voice, and it will show the falling slide of the semitone.

CIRCUMFLEX SLIDES OR WAVES OF THE

VOICE.

THE voice may rise and fall in its slide upon the same syllable. This rise and fall is called a Wave. If there are only two parts to the wave, that is, if the voice rises and falls only once in its slide, such rise and fall are called a single wave. If there are three parts and not more, that is, if the voice rises and falls and rises again, or falls and rises and falls again upon the same syllable the slide is called a double Wave. If there are more parts than three, the wave is called a continued Wave.

If the rise and fall of the voice on a wave are through

the same interval, it is called an equal wave. If it rises first and then falls it is called a direct equal wave. If it falls first and then rises, an inverted equal wave. If the interval of the rise and fall of the voice upon a wave is not the same, it is called an unequal wave. If it rises first and then falls, a direct unequal wave: if it falls first and then rises, an inverted unequal wave. - See Philosophy of the Human Voice.

"Hail! holy Light."

EXAMPLES.

If the word "hail" is uttered with long quantity with a perceptible downward ending, and without any emphasis except that which arises from its prolongation, it will show the direct equal wave of the second.

" High on a throne of royal state."

If this sentence is uttered with extended quantity it will show the inverted equal wave of the second on the syllables "high," "throne," "roy."

"I said he was my friend."

If this sentence is deliberately uttered, with very long quantity upon the "my" and an exclusive emphasis implyng that the person spoken of was not your friend-that vord will show the direct equal wave of a third.

If the answer is "your friend" and the word "your" ; uttered with very long quantity, with a slight degree of urprise and an interrogatory emphasis, it will show the nverted equal wave of the third.

If the sentence is reiterated "I said he was my friend," ith a strongly positive emphasis on the "my," together ith very long quantity, the direct equal wave of the fifth By increasing the emphasis of surprise and making the interrogation more piercing, together with extended quantity upon the word "your" in the sentence, "your friend," accompanied with the former example, the inverted wave of the fifth will be heard.

"I said he was my friend." If the word "my" is uttered with a strongly taunting and at the same time positive expression, that word will show the unequal direct

wave.

If the word "your," in the sentence "your friend," is coloured strongly with scorn and interrogation, it may be made to show the inverted unequal wave.

Practical Remark. The degree of scorn will be increased by adding force to the wave; and will bear a proportion to the extent and inequality of the slides which constitute it.

The wave of the semitone remains to be mentioned. If suspensive quantity together with a plaintive expression is put upon the words "poor" and "old"-of the following sentence they will display the direct wave of the semi

tone.

"Pity the sorrows of a poor old man."

The word "man" may be made to display the inverted wave of the semitone by making it plaintive, with long quantity, and causing the voice to fall upon the second part of the wave.

ELEMENTARY EXERCISES ON THE SLIDES OF THE VOICE.

As a command over these elements of the voice is of the utmost consequence, and as the power of making the

deeper downward slides at will, is possessed by few persons, we subjoin a table of alphabetic sounds for exercise, and we recommend diligent practice upon them.

Let the rising and falling slides of a second, third, fifth and octave be each in their turn shown upon the following elements: also the direct and inverted equal and unequal waves described above.

I conclude this display of the slides of speech by recommending a diligent practice upon the elementary table. These slides give conspicuous expression to syllables. The downward slide is (as will be seen hereafter) one of the most striking means of emphasising words, of expressing positiveness of conviction, indignant resolution, and other affections of the mind, which cannot be conveyed by mere writing, and of which the voice alone holds the true symbols. A discriminating perception of the difference of these respective elements of the voice, and a full command over them will be best attained by the tabular exercises here enjoined. They should be frequently repeated, and not abandoned until the objects for which they are instituted are accomplished.

QUESTIONS TO RECITATION FIFTH..

1. What are the circumstances worthy of attention in the consideration of the slide of speech?

2. What is meant by the radical and vanishing movement ?

3. Let it be demonstrated in sounding the alpha betic elements contained in page 65.

4. A demonstration is required I. of a rising slide of a second; II. of a third; III. of a fifth ; IV. of an octave; V. of the falling slide of a second; VI. of a third; VII. of a fifth; VIII. of an octave.

5. The student is required to draw on a black board, and explain, a diagram, shewing these slides.

6. The student is required to give an instance of the rising slide of a semitone, of a falling slide of the same. 7. How is a rising second popularly distinguished from a rising third?

8. How is a third distinguished from a fifth ?
9. How is a fifth distinguished from an octave ?

10. How is a falling second known?

11. How is a falling third distinguished?
12. How is a falling fifth known?
13. How is a falling octave known ?

14. The student is required to give an instance I. of the direct equal wave of the second; II. of a third; III. of a fifth; IV. of an inverted equal wave of a second ; V. of a third; VI. of a fifth ; VII. of a direct unequal wave; VIII. of an inverted unequal wave; IX. of a wave of the semitone.

15. The student is required to demonstrate these varied intervals on the superscribed table-alone, or in class.