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Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealand Race

Notation

Notation.

The notation that I have adopted is, for the enharmonic diesis, the St. Andrew's cross or saltier x , quarter tone or half sharp; the usual ♯ for the sharp; and x ♯ for three-quarter sharp. In like manner, the -♭ for quarter tone or half flat; ♭ for the flat; and -_♭ (or I might have said + ♭) for the three-quarter flat.

In the Arab ternal division I should use—;one-third sharp, /♯; two-third sharp, ♯/; one-third flat, /♭; two-third flat, ♭//.

In my notation, also, it must be observed, that a sign ♯ or ♭ never conveys its influence beyond the note to which it is attached; thus A section of sheet music. would read E half-flat, E natural, E half-sharp, E natural; and is a delicate expression of the chromatic A section of sheet music. or of the diatonic A section of sheet music.

page 237

I now give the airs as best I can.

One word as to time. Though I have timed the airs I have given, I am free to confess there was neither metre nor rhythm of any marked character discernible in them; and even in the divisions of the lines or verses, the singer seemed to stop indifferently now at one, now at another word. I have, however, followed in my divisions those given in the book, taking it for granted that the learned author, who has given himself so much pains about the matter, will have chosen the most authentic.

JAMES A. DAVIES,*

Formerly of Trin. Coll. Camb.

Late Private Sec. to H.R.H. Prince Leopold,

Count of Syracuse, Naples.

17, Great Ormond Street, Queen Square, September, 1854.

Mr. McGregor gives the following specimens of Arabian Music.—See his “Eastern Music.” A section of sheet music. Which I represent thus:— A section of sheet music. or thus, perhaps clearer:— A section of sheet music. The run at the end is also met with in the New Zealand songs. The cadence is mixed, i.e. enharmonic and diatonic.

* Author of the Papers on the Rhythm of the Ancient Greek Orators, of the Psalms, Selah, the Evil Eye, read before the Royal Society of Literature; and of Papers on Accent and Quantity, discovering their true and real difference, from authentic sources. See “English Journal of Education,” February, March, April, June, July, and August: G. Bell, 186, Fleet Street,

page 238

The Chinese Air sung under my window in London:— A section of sheet music.

page 239
A section of sheet music.

No. 1. He Waita Aroha: or, the Bride's Complaint. Reduced by James Davies. Page 30.*

* The pages refer to Sir George Grey's collection of New Zealand Songs, “Mau Konga moteatea, me nga Haki rara.”

page 240

A section of sheet music.

This last bar would perhaps be better written— but I have avoided as much as possible ♯ or ++ ♭, as being so very unusual, and it is evident to the musician that D three-quarters sharp is equal to E quarter flat, at least sufficiently near in practice.

page 241
A section of sheet music.

No. 2. A Lamentation Largo. Page 28.

* The singer omitted this word every time he sang the air.

page 242
A section of sheet music.

No. 3. Whakarongo. Solo. 1st line Solo, others in Chorus. Page 47.

page 243
A section of sheet music.

No. 4. Child's Song, to Teach Singing. Page 211.