Universal History of Music (Compiled From Divers Sources) Together With Various Original Notes on Hindu Music (An Old and Rare Book)

THE following pages furnish an account of the music of various nations, civilized or uncivilized, on the face of the habitable globe. It must be acknowledged, however, that this treatise does not pretend to be exhaustive, nor are the descriptions characterised by a uniformity of system in the manipulation of the subject. Specimens of the songs of different nations have been given in this book, not only because Music and Poetry are, according to Sanskrit lore, presided over by one and the samo deity, Sarasvati, and are, therefore, intimately connect ed with each other, but also because an acquaintance with the spirit of a nation's songs facilitates the understanding of the spirit of its music and poetry which are but the outward expression of the inner workings of a nation's heart.

A few facts concerning Hindu music are given a place in the Appendix. To enter into details of the kind in the body of the work would be going beyond its general scope.

My acknowledgments are pre-eminently due to the authors of the several valuable works from which I have gleaned the materials for this compilation. They have been alluded to in some portion or other of the book. To those whom I may have omitted to mention by name and to others, including editors of Encyclopedias, Musical Dictionaries and Gazetteers, and publishers of general history and geography I take this opportunity of tendering my grateful thanks.

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