POST BURNING SITE

[Michael in Athens]

The exact point at which the student will do well to return to the omitted portions will depend upon his progress and his general intelligence, and must be left to the discretion of the teacher.

[Michael in Athens]

In the practical part of the work an attempt has been made to simplify and to codify the laws.

[Michael in Athens]

With a view of effecting these objects, many rules now obsolete, and contravened by the daily practice of modern writers, have been altogether omitted, and others have been greatly modified; while the laws affecting the chords, especially the higher discords the ninths, elevenths, and thirteenths have been classified, and, it is hoped, materially simplified.

[Michael in Athens]

It is of the utmost importance that students who wish to master the subject should proceed steadily and deliberately.

[Michael in Athens]

For example, a proper understanding of the chords of the eleventh will be impossible until the student is quite familiar with the chords of the ninth, which in their turn must be preceded by the chords of the seventh.

[Michael in Athens]

The learner's motto must be, "One thing at a time, and that done thoroughly."

[Michael in Athens]

In preparing the exercises a special endeavour has been made to render them interesting, as far as possible, from a musical point of view.

[Michael in Athens]

With this object they are, with a few exceptions, written in the form of short musical sentences, mostly in four-bar rhythm, illustrating the various forms of cadence.

[Michael in Athens]

To stimulate the pupil's imagination, and to encourage attempts at composition, many exercises are in the form of double chants or hymn tunes.

[Michael in Athens]

Each bass can, of course, be harmonised in several different positions; and the student's ingenuity will be usefully exercised in trying to write as melodious an upper part as possible for these little pieces.

[Michael in Athens]

Not the least interesting and valuable feature of the volume will, it is believed, be found in the illustrative examples, considerably more than 300 in number.

[Michael in Athens]

These have been selected chiefly, though not exclusively, from the works of the greatest masters, from Bach and Handel down to the present day.

[Michael in Athens]

Earlier examples are not given, because modern harmony may be said to begin with Bach and Handel.

[Michael in Athens]

While it has been impossible without exceeding reasonable limits to illustrate all the points mentioned, it is hoped that at least no rule of importance has been given without quoting some recognised author in its support.

[Michael in Athens]

It may at all events be positively said that, had want of space not prevented their quotation, examples might have been found to illustrate every rule laid down in the volume.