The Eurhythmics of Jagues-Dalcroze. Introduction by Professor M. E. Sadler.
(Constable and Co. Is. net.)—The Jaques-Dalcroze system of "rhy-thmische Gymnastik" has already attracted much attention among Continental educationists, and the demonstrations given in England by M. Dalcroze and some of his pupils during the last few weeks have excited much interest. The outlines of the method will be found described in this pamphlet, to which Professor Sadler acts as sponsor. Its fundamental object is to give the mind a more complete and intimate control over the body by lending co-ordination to the nervous and muscular systems. This end is attained by means of rhythm. The pupil learns first to distinguish various rhythms and then to " realize " them, that is, to express them with his body or limbs. In course of practice the most intricate rhythmical schemes can be "realized" with complete facility—thus one arm may beat three to the bar while the other beats five, and the feet beat four. This is only an example of the almost limitless expedients by which M. Dalcroze seeks to give his pupils a perfect control over their movements. Details of some of these are given in the book before us, as well as particulars of the school which was opened by M. Dalcroze this spring at Hellerau, a suburb of Dresden.
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