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Story
June 9, 1807
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A gentleman in the West of England possesses the unusual ability to sing a duet alone, producing two distinct sounds simultaneously like an oboe and bassoon, performing the treble and bass of a glee without articulating words.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Musical phenomenon.—A gentleman of musical science and taste, and upon whose veracity we can place the utmost reliance, has favored us with the following very curious particulars of a circumstance, to which he himself, as well as many people of the highest respectability, have at various times been a witness :
"It is no less singular than true, that a gentleman of fortune, in the West of England, can actually sing a duet ; and, what is truly astonishing, he can reserve an octave ; ascending in one clef and descending in another at the same moment. He sings the treble and bass of St. Stephen's beautiful Glee of 'Iph no more ladies,' in a very correct manner—it must be observed, that he does not articulate the words : but at one and the same time produces two distinct sounds, which he can govern at pleasure, and which resemble an Oboe and a Bassoon."
This gentleman can give no explanation of the manner by which he produces two distinct sounds : it was by accident he discovered that he possessed so singular a faculty : it is different from ventriloquism, and he thinks cannot be obtained by imitation, or any artificial management of the organs of speech.
[London paper.]
"It is no less singular than true, that a gentleman of fortune, in the West of England, can actually sing a duet ; and, what is truly astonishing, he can reserve an octave ; ascending in one clef and descending in another at the same moment. He sings the treble and bass of St. Stephen's beautiful Glee of 'Iph no more ladies,' in a very correct manner—it must be observed, that he does not articulate the words : but at one and the same time produces two distinct sounds, which he can govern at pleasure, and which resemble an Oboe and a Bassoon."
This gentleman can give no explanation of the manner by which he produces two distinct sounds : it was by accident he discovered that he possessed so singular a faculty : it is different from ventriloquism, and he thinks cannot be obtained by imitation, or any artificial management of the organs of speech.
[London paper.]
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
Prodigy
What keywords are associated?
Musical Phenomenon
Duet Singing
Two Voices
West England
Glee Performance
Oboe Bassoon
Where did it happen?
West Of England
Story Details
Location
West Of England
Story Details
A gentleman of fortune in the West of England can sing a duet alone, reserving an octave by ascending in one clef and descending in another simultaneously; he produces treble and bass sounds like an oboe and bassoon without articulating words, performing St. Stephen's glee 'Iph no more ladies' correctly; discovered by accident, unlike ventriloquism.