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قراءة كتاب Music and Some Highly Musical People
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Transcriber's Note
About this book: James Monroe Trotter (1842-1892) was born into slavery in Mississippi. His mother escaped with Trotter and his brother via the Underground Railroad, and they settled in Cincinnati, where Trotter became a teacher. He moved to Boston and fought in the Civil War, becoming the first African-American to achieve the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Union Army. He later became the first African-American to be employed by the U.S. Post Office, but resigned in protest when discrimination prevented his promotion. His Music and Some Highly Musical People, written in 1878, is said to be the first comprehensive study of music written in the United States. In 1887, President Cleveland appointed Trotter to the office of Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia, succeeding the great African-American statesman Frederick Douglass in what was then the highest government position to be attained by an African-American. (Source: Wikipedia.) This e-book was prepared from a 1968 reprint published by the Johnson Reprint Corporation, New York.
The Appendix is comprised almost entirely of music, which was transcribed using Finale 2009. For each of the 13 pieces, the first page of the music is displayed in the HTML, along with links to a midi file [Listen]; a PDF file [PDF] containing the original images of the complete piece; and a MusicXML file [XML], which can be viewed in most browsers, text editors, and music notation applications. Where a piece has lyrics, the complete lyrics are set out below the first-page image. Page numbers have been omitted in this section but can be viewed in the PDF files.
Obvious printer errors have been corrected in the text and the music. Except where otherwise noted, inconsistencies and errors in the spelling of proper names and non-English words are underlined in red; hover the mouse over the underlined text to see a pop-up Transcriber's Note. Transcriber's Notes for the music are contained in the MusicXML files.
Several subheadings are rendered in the original in blackletter. In this e-book, these are rendered as bold italic.
This e-book contains some musical flat symbols, which may not display properly depending on the fonts the user has installed. Hover the mouse over the symbol to see a pop-up description, e.g. B♭.
MUSIC
AND SOME
HIGHLY MUSICAL PEOPLE:
CONTAINING BRIEF CHAPTERS ON
I. A DESCRIPTION OF MUSIC. II. THE MUSIC OF NATURE.
III. A GLANCE AT THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
IV. THE POWER, BEAUTY, AND
USES OF MUSIC.
FOLLOWING WHICH ARE GIVEN SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF
REMARKABLE MUSICIANS OF THE COLORED RACE.
With Portraits,
AND AN APPENDIX CONTAINING COPIES OF MUSIC
COMPOSED BY COLORED MEN.
BY
JAMES M. TROTTER.
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture, every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."—Goethe.
"'Tis thine to merit, mine to record."—Homer.
FIFTH THOUSAND.
BOSTON:
LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.
NEW YORK:
CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.
1881.
Copyright, 1878,
By JAMES M. TROTTER.
PREFACE.
The purposes of this volume will be so very apparent to even the most casual observer, as to render an extended explanation here unnecessary. The author will therefore only say, that he has endeavored faithfully to perform what he was convinced was a much-needed service, not so much, perhaps, to the cause of music itself, as to some of its noblest devotees and the race to which the latter belong.
The inseparable relationship existing between music and its worthy exponents gives, it is believed, full showing of propriety to the course hereinafter pursued,—that of mingling the praises of both. But, in truth, there was little need to speak in praise of music. Its tones of melody and harmony require only to be heard in order to awaken in the breast emotions the most delightful. And yet who can speak at all of an agency so charming in other than words of warmest praise? Again: if music be a thing of such consummate beauty, what else can be done but to tender an offering of praise, and even of gratitude, to those, who, by the invention of most pleasing combinations of tones, melodies, and harmonies, or by great skill in vocal or instrumental performance, so signally help us to the fullest understanding and enjoyment of it?
As will be seen by a reference to the introductory chapters, in which the subject of music is separately considered, an attempt has been made not only to form by them a proper setting for the personal sketches that follow, but also to render the book entertaining to lovers of the art in general.
While grouping, as has here been done, the musical celebrities of a single race; while gathering from near and far these many fragments of musical history, and recording them in one book,—the writer yet earnestly disavows all motives of a distinctively clannish nature. But the haze of complexional prejudice has so much obscured the vision of many persons, that they cannot see (at least, there are many who affect not to see) that musical faculties, and power for their artistic development, are not in the exclusive possession of the fairer-skinned race, but are alike the beneficent gifts of the Creator to all his children. Besides, there are some well-meaning persons who have formed, for lack of the information which is here afforded, erroneous and unfavorable estimates of the art-capabilities of the colored race. In the hope, then, of