is easy to put the mouth in a good
position; and voices are trained on it exclusively, with the result that
no other vowel, or vowel shade, is perfectly produced. Actual false
intonation often arises from want of practice in adjusting the cavity of
the mouth to that shape required for producing the best tone and
resonance on the different notes; the absence of co-ordination between
the fundamental tone and the overtones preventing perfect tune.

The absolute truth of the foregoing remarks may easily be proved by
singing the vowels at either extreme of the "vowel scale of nature,"
viz., "oo and ee," over the whole compass of the voice, having regard to
the beauty of tone. Although the singer may be quite unaware of the
science underlying the fact, it will be found that the quality of the
voice at the bottom of its range as these vowels are sung is very
different from that at the top of the range, the alterations taking
place in almost imperceptible gradations. By reference to the foregoing
pages of this book it will be seen that the late Emil Behnke attached
great importance to vowel training, and exemplifications of his methods
are to be found in "Voice Training Exercises" and "Voice Training
Studies" written in conjunction with C. W. Pearce, Mus.Doc. The subject
is also fully explained in "Voice, Song, and Speech," by Lennox Browne,
F.R.C.S., and Emil Behnke; and the whole matter is most ably discussed
in "Pronunciation for Singers," by the late Dr. A. J. Ellis, F.R.S.,
published by Messrs Curwen & Sons.

In thus strongly advocating education of the resonator in the production
of vowel sounds in singing, let me not be supposed to ignore the
necessity for also cultivating pronunciation of consonants, which have
been termed the checks and stops of sound.

Clearness of enunciation and purity of pronunciation, which are great
aids to the voice, and possess a charm all their own, depend upon both
vowels and consonants being accurately rendered.

The English are the worst enunciators of all European peoples, and their
custom is to lay the blame on the language, than which none other is
deemed by them so unvocal. There is, however, a vast amount of sonority
and musical charm in our grand and noble language, second only to the
Italian, when properly spoken.

The cultivation of pure, accurate, and refined pronunciation in speech
will greatly facilitate good enunciation in singing, and should he
sedulously acquired; for th