MUSICAL PUBLICATION .
The Rudiments of Music, with Progressive Exercises. By
GOODBAN. •
Many things might be enumerated as " necessary" to a due acquaint- ance with the " rudiments of music," but we were not aware, till now, that slates were among the number. To Mr. GOODBAN belongs the merit of this discovery ; which is thus announced at the commencement of his preface- " Although slates have been long in use, and generally adopted by profes- sors in teaching the theory and abstruse parts of the science of music, they have been totally disregarded in teaching the rudiments ; notwithstanding their ap- plication, at the period of a learner's commencing his musical instruction, must be considered as equally just and necessary."
The slate, then, forms the basis of the new system, which it is the purpose of the present work to unfold ; and which, in truth, presents no necessary information which is not to be found in many other ele- mentary works of half its size. The A B C of musical notation is presented with unusual prolixity, much of which might be snared; but the details necessary for the beginner's use are essentially similar as they must be-to those of similar publications. And, with all this minuteness of detail, the assistance of a master will be required in order to prevent the learner from falling into mistakes in consequence of the loose way in which terms are frequently employed. Even the meanings of the Italian terms commonly used in music are incorrectly given, and betray not only ignorance of the language, but sometimes of the musical use to which the words are applied. Thus, ''Calando "ix translated " diminish the time ;" " Perdendosi," " diminish the sounds gradually ;" " Segue," " continue the notes in the same style or man- ner as the preceding."
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