Sight Reading Grade 2 Arthur Somervell Magnus Albums vol 31 Swan and Co.
This book was published in 1918 and for a one that is over 100 years old, it is in good condition. Arthur Somervell lived from 1863 until 1937 and he was Inspector of British Schools for 28 years. There were six volumes of sight-reading in this set.
The publisher, Swan and Co., published chamber music, piano music and songs from about 1900 until 1930. There are photos that show the titles of the first 27 volumes of the Magnus Albums. In the Musical News and Herald 1922 Vol 62 – 63, it states that Swan’s Magnus Albums are now in their 100th volume and it discusses a recent addition to the series entitled a “Snap-shot” by Herbert Howells.
In this particular copy there are 20 pieces, all with descriptive titles. These include – Modulation, A Little Song, The Lonely Child and Tempo di Gavotte. One wonders how literally the grade should be taken, as these pieces are well beyond the level of sight-reading a Grade 2 pupil of today would be expected to play.
These 20 pieces are all one page long and are Romantic in style and character. Each of the pieces is expressive, lyrical and attractive and as a group, the pieces cover many aspects required for expressive playing. Some are in ternary form and some modulate part way through.
At the beginning Arthur Somervell covers the rules for sight-reading, which apply as much today as they would have 100 years ago.
They are –
The tempo of the piece must be chosen before playing begins, and must be strictly observed throughout.
· A wrong note is not a vital mistake. But to stop the piece in order to pick up a note that has been dropped, or correct one that is wrongly played is worse than useless, and leads to the most fatal of all faults – stammering.
· Having chosen a tempo which will make the piece fairly easy to execute, read as many notes correctly as possible, omitting those which, at first there may not be time to notice.
· Read a little every day. Five minutes a day is of far more value than half an hour a week.
· Counting aloud in the early stages is essential.
