5 MARCH 1898, Page 26

RECENT MUSIC.

Pianoforte Primer. By G. W. Ivinez. (Enoch and Sons.)— This is one of the "Polytechnic" series, and is specially designed for teaching two or more pupils at once. Hence most of the exercises are written as duets. No doubt elementary exercises, of which this book consists, are of necessity more gymnastics than music. Still we cannot help thinking that some attempt ought to be made in the way of introducing melodious passages. The hideous sounds in Exercise No. 4 ought never to be put before a young pupil. The effect must be to deaden the ear.