The Mechanism of the Human Voice Part 14

Mr. Emil Behnke has already made himself known to the leading members of the musical and medical professions by his learned lectures on "The Theory of Voice Production," and has gained the esteem of those interested in the subject by the masterly manner in which he deals with the matter, as well as his unaffected and, as far as possible, untechnical treatment of it. Mr. Behnke has done much to popularize the study of the human voice, and his book (which abounds in admirable plates) deserves to be widely known.

EDUCATIONAL TIMES.

It is but rarely that science figures as the handmaid of art, yet this book is a signal instance of it, for it is one of the first attempts, if not the very first, at an investigation, on strictly scientific principles, of the normal and the abnormal development of the voice, both in speaking and singing. Herr Behnke, who is both a musician and a physiologist, has brought to bear upon this subject his knowledge as a musician, and the results of several years of patient and careful scientific experiments. We cannot too highly commend this little work to the attention of all those interested in so important a subject.

BIRMINGHAM DAILY GAZETTE.

Since Herr Behnke's removal from Birmingham to London he has become an accepted authority on the subject of voice production, and we are glad to see the results of his studies presented in the useful way in which they are in this little volume. Earnest and conscientious students of the vocal art need not be reminded that the production of fine tone is not the all-in-all of the excellences of singing, but they will certainly know better how to employ their gifts after mastering the secrets Herr Behnke reveals.

Opinions of Mrs. Emil Behnke's Pupils.

VOICE TRAINING.

FROM AN OLD PUPIL.

GRESHAM HOTEL, DUBLIN.

DEAR MRS. BEHNKE,--It is indeed regrettable that Mr. Behnke was not spared to reap to a greater extent the reward of his wonderful work.

You, I know, must have acquired an adequate knowledge of his magnificent system of teaching to enable you to continue on the same course, and so perpetuate his memory. This is a source of comfort to your many friends.

FROM A LADY LECTURER.

EDGBASTON, _May 11th, 1893_.

MY DEAR MRS. BEHNKE,--I feel I must write to tell you how much better I am, and how greatly indebted I am to your treatment.... I can take two or three meetings a week with ease, thanks to your training, and the deeper and fuller tone of my voice has been remarked upon by many.

LARNE, IRELAND.

I have no hesitation in saying that, under G.o.d, you were the means of curing my voice.

FROM A CLERGYMAN WHO HAD BROKEN DOWN IN VOICE.

LONDON, _July, 1893_.

My voice gives me no trouble now; it is indeed very much fuller and more resonant. I can fill my church without the least effort.

FROM A CLERGYMAN WHO HAD SUFFERED FROM "CLERGYMAN'S SORE THROAT."

BRIGHTON, _26th June, 1893_.

DEAR MRS. BEHNKE,--I take this opportunity of thanking you very much for what you have done for my voice. I shall try to keep up your exercises, and hope to receive more lessons later on in the year.

FROM A CLERGYMAN WHO STAMMERED, AND WHOSE VOICE WAS WEAK.

"THE PARSONAGE," _Feb. 7th, 1893_.

DEAR MRS. BEHNKE,--I told the Rev. Mr. S. of the great benefit I had derived from your instruction. He proposes to bring the subject of your work, and the importance of it to young clergymen, before the Bishop, with a view to something being done for ordination candidates.

FROM A TEACHER OF SINGING.

SCARBOROUGH, _Jan. 6th, 1894_.

DEAR MRS. BEHNKE,--For some years I have been teaching successfully on the lines laid down in your late husband's publications and his own "Voice Training Exercises;" and have put into the hands of some of my pupils your "Voice Training Primer." One of them has just pa.s.sed Trinity College Senior Singing Examination with honours (84 marks out of 100).

My own experience is that no exercises I have ever used have so helped to produce "forward" and to cure "throaty" tone, and I have long felt I owed to Mr. Behnke a debt of grat.i.tude for his works. May I be permitted to acknowledge it to you?

STAMMERING.

THE TIMES.

Pre-eminent success in the education and treatment of stammering and other speech defects.

THE BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL.

DR. F. L. NICHOLLS writes:--"This infirmity is so great a drawback to almost every walk in life, and for public speaking so complete a hindrance, that a cure is of the utmost importance. It may therefore be of interest, and possibly of some use to members of the medical profession having a case of this nature in their practice, and desiring a.s.sistance for its cure, if I mention that I have recently had the most satisfactory experience of the cure of such a case. The father, a minister, was very anxious for his son to follow in his own footsteps, while the lad stuttered so badly it was not to be thought of, unless a cure could be effected; and for this purpose he was sent to Mrs. Behnke, of Earl's Court Square, London. Mrs. Behnke was chosen from high recommendations, and very thoroughly has she proved worthy of them. The lad has just returned home, and speaks without the slightest impediment.

I should state that previously to going under Mrs. Behnke's hands we had tried various rules and recommendations without the least success."

"Stammering: its Nature and Treatment." Price 1_s_, of Mrs. Emil Behnke.

Causes of Voice Failure.

_By Mrs. EMIL BEHNKE._

=Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged.=

=OPINIONS OF THE PRESS=.

THE WEEKLY ECHO.