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The West Lothian Traditional Song Group |
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A view from the past |
It's not just Sangschule that thinks singing is 'a Good Thing'. Read William Byrd's view from 1588!
Reasons briefely set downe to perswade
every one to learne to singe.
FIRST,
it is a knowledge easily taught and quickly learned, where there is a good
mafter and an apt Scoller.
2.
The exercife of finging is delightfull to Nature and good to preserve the health
of Man.
3.
It doth ftrengthen all parts of the breft and doth open the pipes.
4.
It if a fingular good remedie for a stutting and ftammering in the fpeech.
5.
It is the beft means to procure a perfect pronounciation and to make a good
Orator.
6.
It is the onely way to know where Nature hath beftowed the benefit of a good
voyce, which guift is so rare, as there is not one among a thoufand that hath
it: and in many, that excellent guift is loft, becaufe they want Art to exprefs
Nature.
7.
There is not any Musicke of Inftruments, whatfoever, comparable to that which is
made by the voyces of Men, where the voyces are good and the fame well forted
and ordered.
8.
The better the voyce is, the meeter it is to honour and serve GOD there-with:
and the voyce of man is chiefely to be imployed to that ende.
SINCE
SINGING IS SO GOOD A THING, I WISH ALL MEN WOULD LEARNE TO SINGE.
