Note 31 — Chronological Index of Contents. (continued 12)

It was published by Haslinger, in Vienna, and the “Wiener Theater-Zeitung,” conducted by Ad. Bäuerle, speaks of it in the following manner: “A fit companion to Hummel’s ‘Clavier-Schule’ (pianoforte school); for in the same way that that opens a new department of education in pianoforte play, this embraces the whole art and science of violin play, and lays down clear principles for an art which hitherto has been taught more by oral precepts, or, at the utmost, by small fragmentary pamphlets. It required the penetrating, searching mind of a Spohr, who surpasses in complete scientific culture the authors of every existing school, to condense in systematic order so important a branch of art, which has been two centuries in acquiring shape; so that the violin, so prominent in all music, may be cultivated upon sure and proper principles, and its study carried out with certain success. How well the great maestro Spohr goes to work to effect this we shall shew in a subsequent clearer exposition of the contents; for he has not only copiously treated the scientific musical culture of the pupil by the clear outspoken method of the instruction in the explanatory text, assisted by the excellent and appropriate pieces which he supplies for practice, but also, in the mechanical part of the instruction, in which the mechanism of the human body is so beautifully and appositely shewn in all its bearings on the mechanical structure of the instrument. The excellent preface to the work presents rules of conduct both for the instructors and parents of pupils for the obviation of a host of evils which have hitherto arisen from false and erroneous modes of proceeding, from the circumstance that few lovers of music, and few teachers of music even, are sufficiently acquainted with these arcana of the art. Well and clearly does he enumerate the means of encouragement by which the industry of the pupil may be incited. How generous is the invitation of the famed master to the students of the violin, that they should impart to him their experience in the progress of their studies of his code of instruction for violin-play, for the further extension of his own knowledge! In this the great earnestness of the true artist for the attainment of the one great object is made conspicuously evident.”... The notice concludes with the following words: “The world-famed master, Spohr, has by this excellent work alone ensured an undying celebrity, and thereby added but a new and beautiful leaf to the laurel wreathe that encircles his brows.”