Curiosities of Music: A Collection of Facts Not Generally Known, Regarding the Music of Ancient and Savage Nations |
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Common terms and phrases
accompanied actors Ambros Ambrosian chant Amiot ancient appear Athens audience bamboo beautiful bells called celebrated century ceremonies chant character chief China Chinese music chorus Christian church clavichord comedy composed Confucius contests court dance dancers drama drums earliest Egypt Egyptian emperor endeavored European existed fact festivals Fetis flute gave Gesch give Greece Greek music hand harmony harp Hindoo Hist honor hymns instru invented Japan Japanese king kithara lady lyre manner melody ment minne-singers modern modes music of Japan musical instruments musicians Nero Neumes occasion opera performers phorminx Phrynicus pitch play players plectrum poetry possessed praise priests prize probably Pythagoras reform reign religious represented resemblance Roman Rome Saltatione sang says scale seems similar singers singing sistrum skolion sometimes songs sound Sparta spectators stage stringed instruments strings style sung Terpander theatre Thespis tion tones took tragedy troubadours trumpets voice
Popular passages
Page 297 - There appeared in these our days a man of great virtue, named Jesus Christ, who is yet living amongst us, and of the Gentiles is accepted for a Prophet of truth, but his own disciples call him the Son of God.
Page 285 - Adfirmabant autem hanc fuisse summam vel culpae suae vel erroris, quod essent soliti stato die ante lucem convenire carmenque Christo quasi deo dicere secum invicem seque sacramento non in scelus aliquod obstringere, sed ne furta, ne latrocinia, ne adulteria committerent, ne fidem fallerent, ne depositum appellati abnegarent.
Page 176 - ... that of her honour. Whilst she is tearing her hair, and rending the skies with her complaints, the conqueror enters, approaches her with respect, addresses her in a gentle tone, soothes her sorrows with his compassion, talks of love and adoration, and like Richard the Third, with Lady Anne in Shakspeare, prevails in less than half an hour, on the Chinese Princess to dry up her tears, to forget her deceased consort, and yield to a consoling wooer.
Page 298 - In reproving he is terrible; in admonishing courteous and fair spoken; pleasant in conversation, mixed with gravity. It cannot be remembered that any have seen him laugh but many have seen him weep. In proportion of body excellent; his hands and arms most delicate to behold. In speaking very temperate, modest and wise. A man for his singular beauty surpassing the children of men.
Page 275 - Even the babies were brought out to dance, and these infants, strapped to their mothers' backs, and covered with pumpkin shells, like young tortoises, were jolted about without the slightest consideration for the weakness of their necks, by their infatuated mothers. As usual, among all tribes in Central Africa, the old women were even more determined dancers than the young girls. Several old Venuses were making themselves extremely ridiculous, as they sometimes do in civilized countries when attempting...
Page 340 - And the vassals are there, And there fly the steeds of the dying and dead ; And where the mingled strife is spread, The noblest warrior's care Is to cleave the foeman's limbs and head, — The conqueror less of the living than dead. I tell you that nothing my soul can cheer, Or banqueting, or reposing, Like the onset cry of " Charge them " rung From each side, as in battle closing, Where the horses neigh, And the call to
Page 345 - kerchief white . " Courage ! To arms ! " she cried In the raging fight each pennon white Reminds me of her love ; In the field of blood, with mournful mood, I see her 'kerchief move , Through foes I hew, whene'er I view Her ruby ring, and blithely sing, " Lady, I fight for thee ! " THE HELDENBUCH, OR BOOK OF THE HEROES.
Page 311 - As their altercation was not likely to come to a speedy issue, the most pious King Charles asked his chanters, which they thought to be the purest and best water, that which was drawn from the source, at the fountain-head, or that, which, after being mixed with turbid and muddy rivulets, was found at a great distance from the original spring?
Page 344 - Take heed, the sun will soon appear ; Then fly, ye knights, your ladies dear, Fly ere the daylight dawn ! " Brightly gleams the firmament, In silvery splendor gay, Rejoicing that the night is spent, The lark salutes the day : Then fly, ye lovers, and be gone ! Take leave, before the night is done, And jealous eyes appear ! " That watchman's call did wound my heart, And banished my delight : " Alas ! the envious sun will part Our loves, my lady bright ! " On me she looked with downcast eye, Despairing...
Page 337 - Since thou, unkind, hast banished me (Though cause of such neglect be none), Where shall I turn from thee ? Ne'er can I see Such joy as I have seen before, If, as I fear, I find no more Another fair; — from thee removed, I 'II sigh to think I e'er was loved.