" THE UNSCIENTIFIC TONIC SOL-FA. SYSTEM." [TO THE EDITOR OF
THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—In your issue of February 8th, reviewing Mr. Helmore's " Catechism of Music," you express a hope that it " will serve to exclude that unscientific method known as the tonic sol-fa." Against your opinion I have no claim to argue, but will you allow me to mention that the opinions of scientific men are largely in favour of the Tonic Sol-fa method ? Professor Helm- holtz, of Berlin, who has been well described as " the Newton of acoustics," has borne strong testimony to the accuracy and truth of the system, in his " Lehre von den Tonempfindungen," and in a letter to me he says :—" During my researches in acoustics, I came, from theoretical reasons, to the conviction that this was the natural way of learning music ; but I did not know that it had been carried out in England, with so beautiful results." I will not occupy your space by quoting similar testi- monies from Mr. A. J. Ellis, F.R.S., Mr. Sedley Taylor, and other acousticians.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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